March 8, 2004, The Philippine Star / AFP, Infighting splits Sayyaf,

March 8, 2004, The Philippine Star / AFP, Infighting splits Sayyaf,

Infighting has erupted among leaders of the notorious Abu Sayyaf extremist group, a senior commander captured late last year has told military interrogators. 

Ghalib Andang, 37, also known as "Commander Robot," gave insights into the inner workings of the brutal, al-Qaeda-linked group, according to a military report, seen by the Associated Press yesterday, on the interrogation of the bandit leader. 

However, Andang has denied involvement in high-profile kidnappings, including the 2000 abduction of 21 Western tourists and Asian workers from Sipadan island in neighboring Malaysia. 

Andang, who was widely seen on TV footage with the Sipadan hostages in Jolo, Sulu, claimed to have acted as an intermediary who delivered sacks of ransom money from a government negotiator to secure the release of the captives, the report said. 

The Abu Sayyaf has about 300 fighters and maintains links with foreign militants but it has been hobbled by infighting among its leaders, Andang said. 

He revealed the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf faction did not recognize the leadership of group chieftain Khaddafi Janjalani. 

Andang told military interrogators that the 300-strong Abu Sayyaf force in Sulu is led by Jumdail Gumbahali, who uses the name Dr. Abu and is armed with M-16 rifles and M-203 grenade launchers. 

Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by Philippine and US authorities, including Janjalani, also have moved out of jungle camps in Sulu because of fears of other rebels that their presence might invite US military assault, the report said. 

Another Abu Sayyaf commander also wanted by Washington, Hamsiraji Sali, broke off from Janjalani's group due to disagreements over ransom money, the military report quoted Andang as saying. 

Andang said Janjalani and two other Abu Sayyaf leaders wanted by the United States — Isnilon Hapilon and Abu Sulaiman — came to Sulu with two foreigners who spoke several languages, including English, Indonesian and Japanese, and offered to train Filipino rebel recruits in "demolition" tactics, the report said. 

It wasn't clear when the alleged visit occurred. 

But Andang claimed the foreigners and Janjalani left the island after Gumbahali declined their offer, fearing their presence would ignite fighting with US-trained government troops. 

"The Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf members fear that the presence of Janjalani... will mean US armed forces military operations," similar to what happened on neighboring Basilan two years ago, the report quoted Andang as saying. 

Andang was referring to Basilan, where US troops were deployed to train and arm Filipino troops in a non-combat assistance credited with crippling the main Abu Sayyaf faction led by Janjalani. 

Three hostages, including an Indonesian sailor, who escaped from the Abu Sayyaf, told the military last year that they saw two Indonesian men train about 100 Filipino recruits in combat, weapons and explosives starting in December 2002. 

It has been alleged that the Abu Sayyaf has links to the regional al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, which has been blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia. 

Andang evaded questions on his alleged role in terrorist activities and has denied charges of high-profile kidnappings, the report said. 

Authorities have charged him with organizing the 2000 Sipadan kidnappings and he faces a mandatory death sentence if convicted.

The hostages were later freed in batches in exchange for large ransoms, reportedly financed by Libya. 

Andang was captured on Sulu last Dec. 8, ending a long hunt for one of the Philippines' most wanted men. The bandit’s leg had to be amputated after a gunfight left him badly wounded. 

The United States rewarded a former Abu Sayyaf member with nearly $10,000 last Friday for providing information that led to Andang's arrest. 

President Arroyo has vowed to crush the remnants of the Abu Sayyaf — whose name means "Bearer of the Sword" — and Jemaah Islamiyah following Andang's capture. 

The kidnapping spree prompted the United States to send more than 1,000 soldiers for a counter-terrorism exercise aimed at helping the Philippine military hunt down the Abu Sayyaf. 

The US counter-terrorism training has been credited with breaking up the group and dislodging it from its base on Basilan. Many key leaders and members have since been arrested or killed. 

Washington has blacklisted the Abu Sayyaf — notorious for kidnappings and beheading hostages — as a terrorist group and has offered rewards for information leading to the capture of its top leaders, including Janjalani and four others. Meanwhile, at least five Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and five soldiers were wounded in clashes on Sulu, the military announced yesterday. 

Fighting began Friday near the town of Pansol after Philippine Marines raided an Abu Sayyaf stronghold, naval forces commander Capt. Petronilo Magno said. 

"At least five Abu Sayyaf members had been killed and five soldiers were wounded in sporadic fighting on the island that began Friday," Magno said. 

Fighting ended late Saturday when the rebels, numbering several dozens, split into smaller groups and retreated into the jungle. 

The military estimates there are about 250-500 Abu Sayyaf gunmen in Sulu, down from about 800 in 2001, most of them now on the run. — AFP