10 February 2017•Update: 10 February 2017
By Hader Glang
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
Government forces have said they killed the leader of an Abu Sayyaf group accused of kidnapping and murder.
The death of Sappari took place on Thursday night during operations targeting terrorists in the country’s south.
Western Mindanao Command said Sappari died during a joint military and police pursuit operation in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi province.
WesMinCom spokeswoman Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay said Sappari evaded the first operation at a beach resort in village.
Petinglay said Sappari and a follower stayed at the resort for days while looking for kidnapping targets.
"Sappari was later neutralized around 9:30 p.m. in village...the successful operations have caused setbacks, and losses for the terrorist group," she added.
"Sappari is the leader of Abu Sayyaf who perpetrated the assassinations of soldiers and kidnappings lately of locals in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi," said Petinglay.
Sappari's group was also accused of the kidnapping of a German couple off Palawan in 2014, a Jordanian journalist in 2012 and the beheading of a school principal snatched in 2009 in Sulu.
