Philippine troops kill Abu Sayyaf leader

Ransom attempt a first in central part of the country

MANILA // Philippine troops killed a young Abu Sayyaf commander on a tourist island yesterday. Moammar Askali, who used the name Abu Rami, was involved in the kidnappings and beheadings of two Canadians last year and a German hostage this year after ransom deadlines expired. Five Abu Sayyaf gunmen, three soldiers and a policeman also were killed in Tuesday’s clashes as the hunt for other terrorists continued.

It was Abu Sayyaf’s first attempt to carry out ransom kidnappings in the central Philippines.

The militants’ success in penetrating the bustling region of beach resorts and other popular attractions will spread fear among tourists and businessmen.

Askali was an emerging hardline leader of Abu Sayyaf and had pledged allegiance to ISIL. He had received bomb- making training from a South-East Asian militant leader who was killed in 2015.

Military intelligence operatives had been trying to track the movements of Askali’s group for several days after learning of their planned abductions. The United States embassy in Manila had advised Americans to take precautions amid “unsubstantiated yet credible information” of possible kidnappings by terrorists in Bohol and other central areas.

The militants still hold at least 29 captives, many of them foreign crewmen.