Majn Sahidjuan, alias Apo Mike, was seriously wounded in a gunfight with the Marines on Saturday night in the city of Languan in the southern Tawi-Tawi province, and later died, Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinlun Jr. said.
He described Sahidjuan as the mastermind behind several kidnappings by Abu Saif, who is in Sulu and has also been involved in bombings and piracy for decades. Since 2014, it has declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.
“We’re glad all the hostages are safe now and we can also neutralize the infamous ‘Apo Mike’ and his two comrades.”
Sahidjuan was among five Abu Sayyaf militants who fled from Sulu to Tawi-Tawi, four of whom were abducted last Thursday.
His boat was captured after being hit by large waves, giving government soldiers a chance to rescue three of the four hostages – Arizal Casta Mira, 30; Arsad bin Dahlan, 41; And Andy Resvanto, 26.
Fourth, Mohammad Khairuddin, 15, was found by government soldiers in the same village where the gunman was found.
The four were among five Indonesians abducted by Abu Sayyaf on January 1 last year from Tambisan in Malaysia. One in five was killed while trying to escape.
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