PHILIPPINES: MILITARY CAPTURES GHALIB ANDANG OR "COMMANDER ROBOT" OF THE ABU SAYYAF ISLAMIC MILITANT GROUP NOTORIOUS FOR KIDNAPPING FOREIGNERS

Record ID: 503905

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: MILITARY CAPTURES GHALIB ANDANG OR "COMMANDER ROBOT" OF THE ABU SAYYAF ISLAMIC MILITANT GROUP NOTORIOUS FOR KIDNAPPING FOREIGNERS
  • Date: 8th December 2003
  • Summary: JOLO, PHILIPPINES (FILE - APRIL 2000) (REUTERS) VARIOUS: OF COMMANDER ROBOT AND ABU SAYYAF LEADER MUJIB SUSUKAN INSPECTING HIGH POWERED FIREARMS (2 SHOTS) MLV: COMMANDER ROBOT TEST-FIRING MACHINE GUN VARIOUS: OF FOREIGN HOSTAGES FROM SIPADAN RESORT WHILE IN CAPTIVITY (IN TENTS)
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ZAMBOANGA AND JOLO, PHILIPPINES
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAA2M98TDNRR4MG75Z4NF02VE8K
  • Story Text: Philippines military capture a senior leader of the Abu Sayyaf Islamic militant group believed to be responsible for several kidnappings.
    Ghalib Andang, known as Commander Robot, was captured by soldiers on Sunday evening (December 7) in the southern Philippines after being wounded in a firefight.
    Andang sustained gunshot wounds in both legs.
    He was flown from the island of Jolo to Zamboanga city by a military helicopter on Monday morning (December 8).
    A military spokesman and other army sources said Andang would be flown back to Manila and possibly presented to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday afternoon.
    The victims of the kidnapping from the Sipadan resort in Malaysia came from seven different nations and were held for periods varying from a few months to three years.
    Ransoms are believed to have been paid in most cases.
    The Abu Sayyaf group is one of several Islamic militant groups fighting the government in and around the southern island of Mindanao and has been linked by Washington to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.
    Andang was not one of the five Abu Sayyaf members on a wanted list issued by the United States.
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