Jolo, Sulu- Government troops killed an Abu Sayyaf sub-commander in an encounter at dawn last Friday in Barangay Kabatuhan, Ti-is in Talipao town.

Ustadz Ummal (Omar) Sahibul, who is listed in the military's order of battle and carried a P150,000.00 price on his head, was killed with four of his followers by the 53rd Scout Ranger Company led by Maj Diocadio Manenggo.

Sahibul is a subcommander of the Abu Sayyaf group under Galib "Commander Robot" Andang, Mujib susukan and Nadzmie Sabtullah.

During the Sipadan hostage crisis last year, Sahibul, who was encamped in a remote and inaccessible area of Samak in Talipao, was known as the "custodian" of several kidnap victims.

Kidnap planner

Sabtullah, who was arrested in July is believed to have planned the kidnapping of three Americans and 17 Filipinos from the Dos Palmas resort last May 27.

He also helped lead the kidnapping of 21 people from a dive resort in Sipadan, Malaysia, last year.

The same 53rd Scout Ranger Company also figured in an encounter with the bandit group last Sunday that resulted in seven Abu Sayyaf members killed and four wounded.

Found in the wallet of the dead Sahibul were two identification cards. One identified him as an MNLF member, the other as barangay chair of Kabatuhan, where both encounters took place.