Abu Sabaya
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Abu Sabaya (1962?'63? - June 21, 2002). Born on the island of Malamawi, Philippines, was believed to be the spokesman and one of the heads of the Abu Sayyaf militant organization in Southern Philippines until he was killed in a shoot out with Philippine special forces in 2002. Prior to his death the American Government had placed a five million bounty on his head for the May 2001 kidnappings of three American missionaries, one of which was later beheaded. According to Filipino military files Sabaya had dropped out of criminology courses to join Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a Muslim separatist group, where he was trained in bomb-making and sabotage. When the MNLF signed a peace treaty with the Filipino Government in 1997 Sabaya joined many Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia. Upon his return to the Philippines he came into contact with Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani, one of the founders of Abu Sayyaf.
Other than the May 2001 hostage incident Sabaya was accused of a string of other hostage takings. In Basilan alone he was accused of being involved in 13 kidnappings, with a Roman Catholic priest, schoolchildren and teachers said to be among his victims. In reaction to this the Philippine government also offered a 5 million peso reward for his capture.
On June 21, 2002 after being tracked for weeks by American and Filipino forces, Sabaya was confronted by The SWAG team (Special Warfare Group of the Philippine Navy) and after attempting to allude capture was shot and assumed killed after he was seen sinking into the ocean. Officials said they recovered Sabaya's backpack, his signature dark sunglasses and the satellite phone he used to communicate with local radio stations where he often taunted the government. Four others were also arrested during the incident.
