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CNN Live Today

Filipino Forces Close in on Abu Sayyaf Leader

Aired June 21, 2002 - 14:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In the Philippines today, authorities say one of the world's most notorious terrorists may have narrowly eluded capture, but not without injury. CNN's Maria Ressa has more from Manila now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aldam Tilao, a.k.a. Abu Sabaya, once worked for the Philippine government and trained for the police force before he became one of the most notorious leaders of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf.

Several times during his kidnap-for-ransom career, Abu Sabaya offered to release his hostages in exchange for the freedom of a terrorist held in a U.S. prison: Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. When his demands were ignored, Abu Sabaya took quick, brutal action. His group beheaded nearly a dozen people last year.

In 2000, he began targeting Americans, kidnapping Jeffrey Schilling, who later escaped. The next Americans were not so lucky. Abu Sabaya beheaded Guillermo Sobero last year, while missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham were used as human shields for more than a year, here forced to read a statement of support for al Qaeda.

Two weeks ago, Martin and a Filipino nurse were killed during a military operation which rescued Burnham's wife. Her first question to Filipino soldiers: did they get Abu Sabaya? Well, now they have.

Before dawn Friday, Philippine special forces intercepted a boat off the coast of Zamboanga Del Norte. Abu Sabaya was wounded in the firefight but, along with two others, jumped off the boat. Four others were captured.

ANGELO REYES, PHILIPPINE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The terrorist threat remains. We should always remain vigilant. The worst thing that could happen is that we become complacent.

RESSA: In the past year, Abu Sabaya frequently taunted Filipino and U.S. forces chasing his group. About 1,200 U.S. troops are in their last month of training exercises in the southern Philippines.

(on camera): The Pentagon approved a plan to send U.S. troops to what's effectively the front lines in the war against the Abu Sayyaf. Helping the Philippine president's resolve to, in her words, hunt the terrorists down. Maria Ressa, CNN, Manila.

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