Senior Abu terror leader killed in Basilan encounter
A SENIOR leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group wanted for a series of atrocities in Basilan, including the beheading of at least 15 soldiers and civilians in 2007, was killed in a Philippine National Police Intelligence Group-initiated operation in Hadji Mohammad Ajul municipality on Wednesday, the Journal Group learned yesterday.
The operation launched by the PNP-IG under Col. Edwin L. Portento, with the support of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, led to the neutralization of Nawapi Abdulsaid alias “Khatan.”
The slain suspect, described as the most senior ASG/Dawlah Islamiyah member operating in Basilan, was said to have worked under a number of prominent ASG leaders, including the late Furuji Indama and Isnilon Hapilon.
Abdul said was also believed to have worked with another slain ASG sub-leader identified as Pasil Bayali and the now jailed Khair Mundos, a key leader and financier of the terror group who was arrested in Manila in May 2004.
The slain suspect is the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for arson and murder issued by the Isabela, Basilan Regional Trial Court.
He was also implicated in the infamous beheading in 2007 of 10 members of the Philippine Marines in Al-barka, Basilan; the beheading of another soldier in the same municipality in 2013; the beheading of a former chairman of Bgy. Mahatalang in Sumisip municipality; and the beheading of two of six Vietnamese sailors who were abducted by the group in 2016 in Bgy. Pamatsaken in Sumisip.
In 2022, he was also accused of involvement in a series of ASG attacks on government troops in the municipalities ot Tipo-Tipo, Al-barka and Ungkaya Pukan. On November 27, 2023, the slain suspect was tagged for his involvement in the planting and detonation of a powerful improvised explosive device in Sitio Bato Piat in Bgy. Limbo Candis in Sumisip which killed two members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit and wounded two other militiamen.
A report to PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil said that members of the PNP-IG Counter-Terrorist Division launched the operation.
A shootout erupted when the suspect sensed the presence of undercover officers in the area, leading to his death.
