Abu’s No. 4 man captured

ZAMBOANGA CITY — A ranking leader of the Basilan-based Abu Sayyaf terrorists was captured as he was recovering from gunshot wounds he sustained from an encounter with government troops last week, the Armed Forces Southern Command (Southcom) here said yesterday.

The Abu Sayyaf leader, supposedly the fourth highest in the military’s order of battle, was identified as Sattar Yacub, alias Abdullahjam Ngayah, who operates in the Tuburan area of Basilan.

Southcom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Cimatu said Yacub was captured late Friday afternoon by police while hiding in a hut in the coastal village of Limpapa, some 40 kilometers west of this city.

Two of Yacub’s followers, identified as Rajak Rohmon, 35, and Adsal Hamjalon, 19, both of Barangay Taluksangay, 20 kilometers east of the city, were also arrested later that day as they were searching for their wounded leader.

Yacub was among some 16 bandits who tried to sneak into Barangay Talisayan, some 25 kilometers west of the city, but were intercepted on April 29 by troops from the 1st Special Forces Riverine Battalion under Maj. Donato San Juan.

Lt. Benedict Hernale, leader of the government troops that intercepted the group, said the terrorists left Basilan only a few hours before they were found at around 9:30 p.m.

The authorities learned that the group was also involved in a recent raid on Tuburan, Basilan.

The government troops killed 13 of Yacub’s followers while the bandit leader fled to Barangay Limpapa.

"He was nursing wounds on his left thigh and on his back when civilians grew suspicious and reported his presence," Cimatu said. Yacub was brought for medical treatment to Camp Navarro General Hospital inside the Southcom headquarters.

Police said Yacub tried to conceal his real identity by using the name Abdullahjam Ngayah but the authorities later positively identified him as one of the four top leaders of the terrorists in Basilan.

Under interrogation, Yacub confirmed that the kidnapped American missionary couple and Filipino nurse Deborah Yap are in the hands of outspoken Abu Sayyaf leader Aldam Tilao, alias Abu Sabaya.

"Nagkasama kami ni Sabaya sa may Maluso last month at kasama niya ang mga Burnham at si Deborah Yap bago kami nagkahiwalay (Sabaya and I got together around Maluso in Basilan last month and he was with the Burnhams and Deborah Yap before we separated)," Yacub said.

Disclaiming knowledge of the hostages’ current location, Yacub claimed he has not heard from Sabaya since that meeting at Maluso.

"Narinig ko nasa Jolo na daw sila pero blangko talaga ako kung saan sila (I heard they are already in Jolo but I really don’t know where they are)," he said.

However, Southcom spokesman Lt. Col. Danilo Servando said Yacub may simply be misleading the authorities since Yacub would likely have a share in the division of ransom they are demanding for the hostages.

He is believed to have been one of those who planned the raid on an upscale island resort off Puerto Princesa City, seizing 21 people, three of them Americans, including Martin and Gracia Burnham, on May 27 last year.

Yacub admitted participating in the bandit raid on Lamitan, Basilan on June 2 when they stormed a church-hospital compound, released some of their 21 hostages and seized five hospital staff members, including Yap.

But he claimed his group merely acted as escorts to Sabaya when they brought their hostages from Palawan to Basilan. He said his group later separated from Sabaya’s.

He also admitted participating in another Abu Sayyaf raid on Barangay Tumahubong in Sumisip, Basilan on March 20, 2000 when they seized 70 people, mostly schoolchildren.

Most of the hostages were released in exchange for food while the others were rescued in military operations. Some of the hostages, however, including Catholic priest Rev. Rhoel Gallardo, were tortured and killed.

Yacub said his group was already planning to surrender to the government and claimed they even sent an emissary to Basilan Rep. Gerry Salapuddin to persuade him to include them in a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas who were to surrender to the government.

"But we learned that the government refused to grant amnesty so we decided to escape and hide in Marawi City before that encounter in Talisayan," he said.

Cimatu, however, said Yacub met with Sabaya to map out sabotage missions here but he refused to elaborate pending the ongoing tactical interrogation.

Cimatu said Yacub’s mission to Zamboanga City was meant to divert the military’s attention from the training operations currently being undertaken with US troops in Basilan.

About 1,000 US servicemen and some 5,000 Filipino soldiers are involved in the anti-terrorism training, dubbed Balikatan 02-1.

Yacub’s arrest came a day after a senior aide of acknowledged Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadafy Janjalani was captured by the police in a village near General Santos City in South Cotabato.

Arrested was Salip Abdullah, 47, who is facing 61 counts of kidnapping, murder and multiple murder before Basilan courts, including the kidnapping and murder of Gallardo.

However, police did not say if Abdullah was implicated in the April 21 bomb attacks in General Santos City that left at least 15 people dead and scores of others wounded.

At least four suspected Abu Sayyaf terrorists have been arrested for the bombings in the city where, police claimed the terrorists are seeking refuge.