Sahiron, Jemaah Islamiyah leader killed in clashes?

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The military said it was highly probable that Abu Sayyaf leader Radulan Sahiron and a Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militant were killed in recent encounters in Sulu.

Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Nelson Allaga said there were indications that Sahiron was killed after he fell off his horse, which was shot by automatic gunfire from government troops during an encounter in Talipao last Dec. 7.

“There is a very high probability that Radulan Sahiron was killed and one JI, but we can not confirm and validate it as of the moment,” Allaga said.

Allaga added they were not able to retrieve the supposed body of Sahiron to confirm his death.

“The reason we came up with that conclusion is because in the (Abu Sayyaf) camp that was attacked by the troops, we saw the horse of Radulan lying on the ground, and he usually rides on (that) horse,” Allaga said.

The attack in Talipao also killed nine soldiers, he added.

On the identity of the slain JI militant, Allaga said they are still verifying the reports.

The reports also indicated three JI militants were among the Abu Sayyaf when troops launched the attack.

Allaga identified the high value targets as Umar Patek, Marwan and Zulkipli.

He stressed intelligence reports kept pouring in pointing that Sahiron was killed during the encounter.

Sahiron is among the high-ranking leaders of Abu Sayyaf wanted by the US government for the kidnapping of 21 tourists in the island resort of Sipadan, among other high profile kidnapping of foreigners.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief, Gen. Alexander Yano earlier revealed intelligence efforts to validate reports of the killing of a JI operative in the encounter.

Yano said there are reliable reports that “a high value” al-Qaeda-linked JI operative was among the five terrorists killed by government troops during the assault on the suspected hideout of Sahiron.

Yano, however, did not elaborate on the identity of the so-called high value target killed by troops during the encounter since they have not retrieved any dead body at the site.

Anti-terror Task Force Comet chief Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban also did not substantiate reports that a JI militant was among those killed during the assault.

Sabban said troops in the area failed to retrieve the bodies of the slain JI terrorist or any of the Abu Sayyaf bandits since they had been dragged away by their fleeing comrades.