Zamboanga (Philippines), May 30: A Commander of the Muslim Abu Sayyaf kidnapping group has been slain in a raid in the southern Philippine island of Basilan, the local Army Chief said today. Mauron Ampul, also known as Bashirol Ampul, was shot dead by his escorts after he tried to escape following his capture in a raid near Sumisip town yesterday, Colonel Bonifacio Ramos said. Ampul, identified as a key aide of Abu Sayyaf chief Hamsiraji Sali, had a bounty of USD 2,820 dollars on his head and was wanted for a string of kidnappings-for-ransom of Christians in recent years, including the killing of at least two captives. He took part in the kidnapping and killing of a Catholic priest in 2000 and may have been involved in the abduction of three Americans and numerous Filipinos in 2001.


Two of the Americans later died in captivity while the third was rescued.

Ramos said his troops were continuing to track down Sali who usually stays close to Ampul.
The US government earlier offered a reward of as much as five million dollars for information leading to the arrest of Sali and four other Abu Sayyaf Commanders.


The US and Philippine governments have both linked the Abu Sayyaf to the al-Qaeda network of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.

Bureau Report