Abu Sabaya

Aldam Tilao (died June 21, 2002), better known by his nom de guerre Abu Sabaya (Arabic, "Bearer of Captives"), was born on the island of Malamawi in Mindanao, Philippines. He was the spokesman and one of the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf militant Islamist separatist organization in the southern Philippines until he was killed in a shootout with Filipino Special forces in 2002.

Prior to his death, the United States government had placed a USD 5-million bounty on his head for the May 2001 kidnappings of two American missionaries and another American who was later beheaded. According to Filipino military files, Sabaya had dropped out of a criminology course to join the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Muslim separatist group, who trained him in bomb-making and sabotage. When the MNLF signed a peace treaty with the Filipino Government in 1997, Sabaya joined many Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia. Upon his return to the Philippines he came into contact with Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani, one of the founders of the Abu Sayyaf.

Other than the May 2001 hostage incident, Sabaya was accused of a string of other hostage-takings. In Basilan alone, he was accused of being involved in 13 kidnappings incidents, including that of a Roman Catholic priest, schoolchildren and teachers. In reaction, the Philippine government also offered a Php 5-million reward for his capture.

On June 21, 2002, after being tracked for weeks by American and Filipino forces, Sabaya was confronted by a Special Warfare Group team of the Philippine Navy. After attempting to evade capture, Sabaya was shot and assumed killed after his body was seen sinking into the ocean. Officials said they recovered Sabaya's backpack, his signature dark sunglasses and the satellite phone he used to communicate with local radio stations in wherein he often taunted the government. Four others were also arrested during the incident.

References

* [http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/06/21/philippines.rebel/ Search for Abu Sayyaf leader's body] CNN, June 22, 2002
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2056941.stm Philippines rebel leader 'shot'] BBC, June 21, 2002
* [http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:0BwkJWZoK78J:www.worldreporter.org/news/anmviewer.asp%3Fa%3D397+Abu+Sabaya+born&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=2 Abu Sabaya: Trainee policeman turned Public Enemy No. 1]
* [http://harakahdaily.net/article.php?sid=1735 Harakah Daily: Top Abu Sayyaf leader slain in southern Philippines]