Philippines confirms death of Daesh-linked leader

By Hader Glang

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) – Philippine authorities Wednesday confirmed that a leader of a Daesh-linked terror group has been killed in a clash with military troops in Bohol province.

Lt. Gen. Oscal Lactao, chief of the military's Central Command (CentCom), said Abu Sayyaf leader Muamar Askali, alias Abu Rami, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the troops in Inabanga town.

The military tagged Abu Rami as a self-proclaimed spokesman of the Abu Sayyaf group, which is based in the southernmost part of Mindanao, particularly in Sulu province.

The head of Central Visayas police office's intelligence division, Senior Superintendent Jonathan Cabal, and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Ano were also reported to have confirmed the death of Askali.

They did not provide further details on Abu Sayyaf leader's death.

Askali surfaced in April 2014 when he claimed over Radio Mindanao Network station in Zamboanga City the abduction of a German couple - Stefan Viktor Okonek and Henrike Dielen -- from their yacht off Palawan.

He used to announce in the local radio station whenever the Abu Sayyaf group issued ransom demands in exchange for the release of foreign hostages.

A video posed on social media in Oct. 17, 2014, Askali showed bundles of P1,000 Philippine peso bills which he claimed totaled P250 million, the ransom paid to them in exchange for the release of German couple.

Meanwhile, armed forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told reporters in Manila that one more militant was killed by troops in a clash Wednesday at around 1.30 a.m. local time (1730GMT Tuesday) in Inabanga town.

He said the fatality from the government's side stands at four, including three military troops and a policeman.