Sayyaf spokesman slain, AFP confirms
By Roel Pareño
The Philippine Star 01/17/2007
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Solaiman was killed in an encounter with government troops in Talipao, Sulu, the military said yesterday.
Solaiman, whose real name is Jainal Antel Sali Jr., was believed to have masterminded the kidnapping of three Americans and Filipino tourists from Palawan in 2001. He had a $5-million reward on his head from the US government.
In Manila, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. confirmed at a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo that Solaiman was indeed slain by government troops. He then stood up to write an ‘X’ across Solaiman’s face on a US poster of most-wanted terror suspects.
Cedo immediately Esperon of the initial findings made on the remains of Solaiman, which were immediately handed over to an imam (Muslim preacher) at the 104th Army Brigade where it was prepared for proper burial.
Esperon said Solaiman’s death was confirmed by "an action agent," a former bandit-turned informant who used to be with the slain bandit leader for five years.
He said Solaiman’s physical attributes were verified through the US military advisers working with government troops hunting down the Abu Sayyaf in the area.
Esperon suggested that the US military, which has deployed small units of advisers on the island, provided intelligence that allowed Filipino troops to track down and kill their targets.
By Roel Pareño
The Philippine Star 01/17/2007
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Abu Sayyaf spokesman Abu Solaiman was killed in an encounter with government troops in Talipao, Sulu, the military said yesterday.
Solaiman, whose real name is Jainal Antel Sali Jr., was believed to have masterminded the kidnapping of three Americans and Filipino tourists from Palawan in 2001. He had a $5-million reward on his head from the US government.
In Manila, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. confirmed at a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo that Solaiman was indeed slain by government troops. He then stood up to write an ‘X’ across Solaiman’s face on a US poster of most-wanted terror suspects.
Cedo immediately Esperon of the initial findings made on the remains of Solaiman, which were immediately handed over to an imam (Muslim preacher) at the 104th Army Brigade where it was prepared for proper burial.
Esperon said Solaiman’s death was confirmed by "an action agent," a former bandit-turned informant who used to be with the slain bandit leader for five years.
He said Solaiman’s physical attributes were verified through the US military advisers working with government troops hunting down the Abu Sayyaf in the area.
Esperon suggested that the US military, which has deployed small units of advisers on the island, provided intelligence that allowed Filipino troops to track down and kill their targets.
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