Call of nature did Abu Solaiman in

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 02:31pm (Mla time) 01/25/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Abu Solaiman, the alleged architect of the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf’s kidnapping sprees and bomb attacks, was killed when he was most vulnerable, after having answered to the call of nature, the soldier who shot him dead said Thursday.

With the barrel of an M-14 rifle pointed at him and his bodyguards out of sight, Solaiman could only shout “Allahu Akbar [God is great]!” as he tried to escape from Army Sergeant Raul Suacillo.

“He looked shocked and scared,” Suacillo said of Solaiman.

At that time, the enlisted man was not aware that he was staring the so-called “Engineer” of the Abu Sayyaf in the eye.

At a news conference in Camp Aguinaldo, Suacillo said he tried to arrest Solaiman, but the bandit leader tried to make a run for it, forcing him to open fire. Solaiman was hit in the back.

Troops did not immediately recognize Sulaiman because his face was covered in mud and blood. He was identified only after pictures of his bathed remains were shown to intelligence operatives and captured bandits.

The bandit spokesman allegedly planned the kidnapping of 20 people, including an American missionary couple, from the Dos Palmas resort in Palawan province in May 2001. Two Americans were later killed, one beheaded by the bandits, the other, one of the missionaries, in a rescue mission.

Abu Sulaiman also allegedly masterminded the bomb attack on the Superferry 14 off Manila Bay on February 27, 2004 and the Valentine’s Day bombings in the cities of Makati, Davao, and General Santos on February 14, 2005. Over 200 people were killed and scores others were wounded in the attacks.

Solaiman’s shooting signaled the start of the three-hour gun battle -- from 9:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. -- on Mt. Dajo in Talipao town, Sulu province last January 16, First Lieutenant Almirante Mejares, commander of the 8th Special Forces Company that led the attack, said.

The bandits were taken by surprise. The elite troops scaled the steeper side of the mountain to slip past the Abu Sayyaf camp’s security and head straight for the 17 “VIP” bunkers, said Brigadier General Arturo Ortiz, commander of the Special Forces Regiment.

“They took the longer and harder road to get there,” Ortiz said of his men.

Ortiz said the bandits thought pursuing government troops would take the easier route to their camp, where a layer of security composed of 27 bunks, was positioned.

The commander of the 8th Special Forces Company which led the assault, First Lieutenant Almirante Mijares, said the VIP bunks were furnished with beds, sofas, cellular phones and washrooms for women and were stocked with flowers and perfume. The pathways to the bunks were also lined with flowers.

“It was like paradise,” he said, adding the camp could have been set up two to three months ago.

While on a stakeout before the firefight started. Mejares said they heard female voices from the VIP huts but could not be sure if the women were wives or Abu Sayyaf fighters too.

Mejares said intelligence information confirmed that Solaiman, Indonesian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) explosives expert Dulmatin, and Abu Sayyaf sub-commander Albader Parad, were in the Mt. Dajo camp.

The fully-furnished VIP huts could have been occupied by the extremist leaders.

Ortiz said there were unconfirmed intelligence reports that Dulmatin was injured in the encounter. He could not elaborate on the JI bomber’s injuries.

“Based on signal intelligence, there are reports that Dulmatin was injured, but there is no confirmation yet,” Ortiz said.

Solaiman’s death was confirmed on January 17. Three days later, a DNA test by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States confirmed that remains dug up in Sulu last December 27 belonged to Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.

Janjalani reportedly died from injuries sustained in a September 4 encounter in Patikul town with Marines led by Second Lieutenant Romulo Dimayuga.

With Janjalani and Solaiman neutralized, authorities are stepping up the hunt for the remaining Abu Sayyaf leaders Isnilon Hapilon and Radullan Sahiron, and the alleged brains of the 2002 Bali bombings, Dulmatin and fellow JI operative Umar Patek.

Troops have been hot on the trail of the extremist leaders in Sulu since August 1, 2006.

Wednesday evening, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded the troops involved in the neutralization of top terror suspects with medals and spot promotions at a dinner she hosted in Malacañang.

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