By MARTIN A. SADONGDONG
The grandson of a top commander of Abu Sayyaf Group was killed by the military in a pursuit operation in Talipao, Sulu last Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported yesterday.
Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, identified the fatality through his first name “Vikram” – the grandson of ASG commander Radullan Sahiron.
Vikram was killed a day after 11 soldiers died in an encounter with the ASG in Talipao.
According to Sobejana, elements of Joint Task Force Sulu received reliable information about the presence of Vikram in Talipao.
The JTF Sulu tracked the movement of Vikram, who was aboard a motorcycle with an unidentified cohort, until they intercepted him in Barangay Bilaan around 9:45 p.m.
Pursuing troops were fired upon by Vikram and his cohort, prompting soldiers to engage them in a running gunbattle. Vikram was hit and left by his cohort lying dead on the road and the latter escaped.
“Nag-scamper kasi sila, they were reduced into splintered groups para hindi madaling madetect. Eh cordoned na natin ‘yung area plus the support of the locals, madali na natin silang mahuhuli kung lalabas man sila,” Sobejana said.
The remains of Vikram was brought to Kuta Heneral Teodulfo Bautista Station Hospital in Jolo, Sulu for proper disposition.
Vikram had established himself in the ASG community as a notorious bomb-maker.
Major Gen. Corleto Vinluan, commander of JTF Sulu, said Vikram took part in the armed encounter last Friday in Patikul in which 11 members of the 21st Infantry Battalion were killed and 14 others were wounded.
The soldiers engaged about 40 members of an ASG faction under the direct command of Sahiron and Hadjan Sawadjaan, another ASG commander who is regarded as the “emir” or leader of the Islamic State operations in Southeast Asia.
The soldiers were supporting a group of elite Scout Rangers who were running after Sahiron and Sawadjaan when they were attacked by the bandits.
The encounter was a follow-up to two major engagements days prior which resulted into the killing of several ASG bandits.
The 11 slain soldiers were honored in a send-off ceremony at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Sta. Maria, Zamboanga City the other day. The remains of the fallen soldiers were transported to their hometowns via a military aircraft.
