ASG sub-leader killed in Basilan

By Ronron
November 5, 2007

Government security forces killed dawn of Monday a suspected sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) during a raid in the southern island province of Basilan, a military commander said.

Lt. Col. Vincent Teodoro, commander of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 7, identified the fatality was Karim Jamsali Yebnom, who uses the alias Kumander Bakulaw.

Teodoro told Camp Aguinaldo reporters in a phone interview that Yebnom used to be a henchman of ASG spokesman Aldam Tilao, popularly known as Abu Sabaya, when the latter was still alive.

Teodoro said the military received information that Yebnom was hiding at a house in Sitio Sipit-sipit, Barangay Bato-bato in Akbar town, prompting a team from MBLT 7 to raid the said house at around 5:30 am yesterday (Monday).

The government troops, however, were met with some 10 armed persons at said house, resulting in an exchange of gunfire for 10 minutes, Teodoro said.

When the armed men escaped, the government soldiers scoured the house and saw the dead body of Yebnom, he said.

Asked if Yebnom is among the suspects behind the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers last July 10 in Al-Barka town, Teodoro said the matter is still under investigation.

On Saturday afternoon, wanted ASG sub-leader Jamal Taib was also killed as authorities were trying to arrest him in Maluso town of said province.

The government has poured in thousands of soldiers in Basilan and in the neighboring province of Sulu a few months back to run after lawless elements, especially those responsible for the July 10 incident and the subsequent fighting in Sulu in August./DMS