ZAMBOANGA CITY, 24 February 2004 — Security forces clashed yesterday with Abu Sayyaf rebels, whose leader is being hunted by the United States for the murder of an American hostage, on a remote hinterland village in Basilan island, officials said.
Troops battled a group of rebels led by Abu Sayyaf leader Hamsiraji Salih in Kapatagan Grande village in the outskirts of Isabela City, said Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias, chief of the military’s 4th Civil Relations Group (CRG).
Salih is one of five rebel leaders implicated by Washington and the Philippine government for the killing of Californian Guillermo Sobero in 2001. “We have reports that there could be enemy casualties and government offensive is still going on in Basilan against the rebels,” Covarrubias told Arab News.
He said there were no military casualties.
Covarrubias said farmers tipped off the military about Salih’s presence in the village and troops stormed the area after positively pinpointing their hideout. “We have been getting a lot of reports from civilians about the rebels,” he said.
Abu Sayyaf rebels on Saturday attacked a remote village in the southern island of Jolo, wounding a six-year old girl. The rebels strafed a row of houses in Bandang village in Talipao town and wounded Nadzmalyn Oksin, the military said.
The military also said that suspected rebels last week snatched a seven-year old schoolgirl after killing her driver while on their way to school in Jolo. The gunmen seized Rachel Guhit, whose father was a former Marine soldier, it said.
Another group of gunmen is also holding a local trader, Ramon Inoferio, who was kidnapped Nov. 20 in Jolo island, officials said.
