Abu sub-leader slain in Zamboanga raid

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — A sub-leader of Abu Sayyaf bandits was killed in a raid in a village near the military base in this city yesterday.

Arrasid Adjing Halissam, alias Guru Ara, fired at law enforcers serving a search warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives at his safehouse in Barangay San Roque, according to Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, Zamboanga peninsula police director.

Ylagan said personnel of the regional, Sulu and local police, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group as well as Special Action Force commandos conducted the operation at about 3 a.m.

He said a caliber .45 pistol, magazine with ammunition, a hand grenade and bomb components were recovered from the fatality.

“As per periodic status report, subject is the trusted man of slain international terrorist Isnilon Hapilon. In addition, alias Guru Ara was the facilitator of late Malaysian international terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir alias Marwan,” Ylagan said in his report.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas said Halissam was also tagged in the beheading of a kidnap victim in 2009.

”The full might of the law will not rest until the community is safe from atrocities and terroristic acts of the Abu Sayyaf,” Sinas said.