US Wanted Lists
ZAMBOANGA CITY (Al Jacinto / Nov. 15, 2012) – The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has added a senior Abu Sayyaf leader on its list of the most wanted terrorist in the world for his involvement in the kidnapping of US missionary Charles Walton in the southern Philippines province of Sulu.
Walton, then working for the Summer Institute Linguistics, a missionary organization involved in translating the Bible, was kidnapped in November 14, 1993 in Pangutaran Island where he lived for nearly 20 years. He was freed a month later.
“Raddulan Sahiron is wanted for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a United States Citizen. On November 14, 1993, the victim was abducted from his residence at Simbahan, Pangutaran, Sulu, Philippines, by approximately 14 armed members of the terrorist organization Al Harakat al Islamiyyah, also known as the Abu Sayyaf Group. The victim was transported to the terrorist’s jungle camp on the Southern Philippine island of Jolo. He was held captive for 23 days until his release on December 7, 1993,” the FBI said.
It said Sahiron was indicted in the US District Court in Columbia on February 27, 2007, and was charged with hostage taking and aiding and abetting and causing an act to be done. It added that an arrest warrant was issued on the same date.
Sahiron, a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front, is believed to be hiding in Sulu’s Patikul town.
The US State Department has offered a bounty of $1 million for the capture of Sahiron, who was also linked to the 2001 kidnappings of a US missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham, and California man Guillermo Sobero, along with 17 Filipino holiday makers in Palawan Island in Western Visayas in central Philippines and brought them by boat to Basilan province in southern Philippines.
Sobero was beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf and his body was left in the jungle to be devoured by wild animals. While Martin Burnham was killed ans his wife wounded during a US-led rescue operation in Zamboanga del Norte province where the Abu Sayyaf tried to flee.
“Many innocent men, women and children have died or have been seriously injured as a result of Sahiron’s actions. Sahiron played a role in the May 2001 Dos Palmas kidnapping of three US citizens, including Martin and Gracia Burnham, and 17 Filipinos from a tourist resort in Palawan, Philippines. Several of the hostages, including U.S. citizen Guillermo Sobero, were murdered,” according to the Rewards for Justice Program.
The State Department said Sahiron is continues to plot terror schemes that impact many communities. “Because of his leadership position within the ASG, whose terrorist attacks have resulted in the deaths of U.S. and Filipino citizens, U.S. authorities consider Sahiron to be a threat to U.S. and Filipino citizens and interests,” it said.
Sahiron lost his right hand fighting security forces in the 1970s and usually goes around on horseback.
The Abu Sayyaf also kidnapped over 3 dozen Asian and European holidaymakers in a daring cross-border raid in Malaysia in 2000 and ransomed them off to Libya. (Mindanao Examiner)
20