3 Samal kidnapping suspects slain

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Three Abu Sayyaf bandits tagged in the kidnapping of three foreigners and a Filipina on Samal island were killed in an encounter with Malaysian authorities on Thursday. 

Citing reports from security officials in Lahad Datu in Sabah, Maj. Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said one of the fatalities was Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Abraham Hamid. The identities of the two other slain bandits were not immediately available.

Samsung Aljan and Awal Hajal were arrested while two others were reported missing.

“The speedboat used by the Abu Sayyaf sank during the fight,” Tan said.

 He said Malaysian authorities engaged the bandits in a “surprise shootout” to prevent them from staging another kidnapping.

Hamid’s group was suspected to be behind the kidnapping of Canadians Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipina Maritess Flor at the Ocean View Resort in Barangay Camudmud on Sept. 21.

Hall and Ridsel were beheaded while Flor and Sekkingstad were freed after reportedly paying ransom.

Tan said Hamid was also a suspect in the kidnapping of four  crewmembers of an Indonesian tugboat near the border of Malaysia in Tawi-Tawi recently.

He said Hamid’s death is a “big blow” to the Abu Sayyaf.