MILF leader who escaped from jail reunited with forces

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Commander Dan Laksaw Asnawi, who escaped with 30 others in the Dec. 13 jailbreak at the Basilan Provincial Jail has reunited with his forces, the military said.

Asnawi, who has a P2-million bounty on his head, is the deputy commander of the MILF 114th base command. He was arrested, along with four others, allegedly for their participation in the beheading of 14 Marines in 2007.

Brigade Gen. Eugene Clemen of the 1st Marine Brigade confirmed that Asnawi reached his faction after days of eluding government forces.

“He managed to link up with his faction,” Clemen said.

He said the military, through the government peace panel, has demanded the MILF to turn over Asnawi.

The Anti-Terror Council (ATC) has set aside a total bounty of P10 million for the capture of the 31 fugitives, the largest portion of which is allocated for the recapture of Asnawi.  

The military recently handed over a P100,000-reward to a civilian informant who provided information that led to the recapture of Abu Sayyaf escapee Hakim Julalang in the village of Masola, Isabela City.

Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, chief of the Naval Force Western Mindanao and Task Force Trillium formally turned over the reward.

The military has released a total of P700,000 from the amount for the recapture of five fugitives.

On Dec. 13, around 70 gunmen bore a hole in the concrete wall of the jail using a sledgehammer and bolt cutters. The group, suspected by the military to be MILF rebels, allegedly wanted to spring Asnawi and the four co-accused. 

MILF spokesperson Eid Kabalu had claimed Asnawi as one of their commanders. He said Asnawi’s nephew was among those who broke into the prison but the MILF leadership did not authorize the attack.

Aside from Asnawi’s group, 12 from the al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf escaped. The rest were common criminals.