ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Aug. 31, 2014) – Policemen killed a key Abu Sayyaf member arrested in the southern Philippine province Tawi-Tawi in connection to the spate of kidnappings and murder in Sabah, Malaysia, reports said.
Malaysia’s The Star Online reported that Mobin Hailil alias Kahumbo, who was arrested in Bongao town on August 26, had been shot dead allegedly after grabbing the gun of one of his escorts while on their way to jail from a court appearance on August 29.
The 44-year old Hailil was charged with illegal possession of firearm and explosives after police commandos and soldiers seized a pistol and a grenade from him during his arrest.
Hailil is also being linked to the killing of a Malaysian policeman Kpl Rajah Jamuan, 32, on Mabul Water Bungalow Resort during an Abu Sayyaf raid in July this year. Rajah’s companion Kons Zakiah Alejp, 26, was kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf and is being held for ransom in southern Philippines.
The Star Online exclusive report said Tawi-Tawi police chief Joe Salido has ordered an investigating into the killing of Hailil.
Quoting from a police report it obtained, The Star Online said that Hailil was killed when he allegedly tried to escape while being escorted under heavy guard in Bongao town.
The police report said “the suspect pulled the firearm of a security team member and resisted. That gave reason for the security team to shoot Kahumbo, resulting in his instant death. Team medics immediately applied first aid and brought Kahumbo to the hospital but he was declared DOA (dead on arrival).”
The Star Online also quoted an unidentified intelligence source from Tawi-Tawi that claimed Hailil was killed to prevent him from bailing out of prison.
“They said that it would have been difficult to find him guilty in court as he had the protection of someone influential in southern Philippines. It would be difficult to find him guilty on either illegal possession of weapons or kidnapping. Security forces know that he would eventually be freed and that is why they executed him,” the source said.
It was unknown whether police and military had completed its interrogation on Hailil, or whether he was killed to silence him. Abu Sayyaf prisoners are usually transported to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City while charges are being prepared or for further interrogation, especially those involved in high profile cases such as the Sabah kidnappings.
Eastern Sabah Security Command Intelligence Director Datuk Ahmad Nadzer Nordin said at least 14 groups from southern Philippines were involved in cross-border kidnappings in Sabah.
The Star Online also quoted a report by former Abu Sayyaf hostage and Mindanao State University lecturer Octavio Dinampo as saying that Hailil was “an intelligence gatherer for Abu Sayyaf, whose main duty is to identify possible targets for the gunmen to kidnap.”
“As an urban operative, he would be familiar with places like Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna,” Dinampo, who was kidnapped in June 2008, told The Star Online, adding that Hailil would blend in with the Tausug and Yakan communities in these districts.
“These operatives use their knowledge to identify possible kidnap victims and watch their movements as well as the fast boats to be used in the abductions,” he said, adding, any information from Hailil would enable Philippine security officials to know the inner workings of the Abu Sayyaf.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abd Rahman earlier tagged brothers as Nilson and Badong Muktadil as among those involved in kidnappings in Sabah. The two brothers were also linked to the raid on Mabul Water Bungalow Resort.
Malaysia’s Star Online also quoted Jalaluddin as saying that the brothers were part of a kidnap-for-ransom group based in Tawi-Tawi province. They were believed to be involved in the April 2 kidnapping of Chinese tourist, Gao Huayun, 29, and Filipino worker Marcy Darawan, 40, from the Singamata Reef Resort off Semporna in Sabah. Both women had been freed in exchange for a huge ransom. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from The Star Online.)
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