Kidnap gang leader killed in shoot-out

The leader of a bandit group holding four Filipino women hostages was reportedly killed in a gun battle on Friday with government troops on southern Sulu island, a top army official said yesterday.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Tolentino, army commander in Sulu, said three village chieftains in Patikul town have confirmed that Abdulmuin Sahiron, a nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader, Radullan Sahiron, was killed in fierce clashes with security forces in Mt. Bugsuk.

"The three could not have mistaken Sahiron's identity since he is very well known in the area," he said, while pointing out that the slain bandit chief was notorious in his hometown for being a drug addict.

He noted that troops were sent to the jungle to search for Sahiron's body. "We don't want a situation here that would be an embarrassment to the government, so we need to confirm if bandit leader, Moin Sahiron, was really killed."

Brig. Gen. Tolentino said the bandit leader succumbed to gunshot wounds during the Friday encounter with government troops.

Sahiron's group reportedly joined forces with the Abu Sayyaf last week and used the hostages as a "human shield" against pursuing government forces.

The military launched an all out offensive two weeks ago after local officials failed to secure the release, through negotiations, of the four women who are all members of the Protestant Christian Jehovah's Witnesses.

The four, along with six male hostages who are also members of the Protestant group, were abducted by Sahiron's group last month.