AFP bares: Abu Solaiman caught literally with pants down

Abu Solaiman, the second highest leader of the Abu Sayyaf who planned high-profile bombings and kidnappings of the militant group, was caught by troops literally with his pants down before he was killed almost two weeks ago in Sulu, the military said Thursday. On January 16, troops swarmed into Mt. Dajo in Talipao town to pursue the bandits. Solaiman was relieving himself in a heavily forested area of the mountain when one of the Army troopers chanced on the Abu Sayyaf leader. At gunpoint, Solaiman was asked by S/Sgt. Raul Suacillo to surrender but the former resisted. “I waited for him (Solaiman) to finish (relieving himself). So that we will not be compromised, I called him because I want to apprehend him. We even had an eye contact. I told him ‘don’t make a noise’," said Suacillo. Suacillo said instead of surrendering, Solaiman ran and chanted “Allahu Akbar (God is great)." He said he opened fire at Solaiman to stop him from shouting that could warn other Abu Sayyaf members. Suacillo was among the six soldiers promoted by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday night for their role in the operation against Solaiman. Suacillo’s team leader, 1Lt. Almerante Mijares, said they believe that Solaiman did not know the troops were closing on him “because it was foggy and the place is thickly-forested." “When he was already through, he was surprised that an M14 was already pointed to him," Mijares said. Mijares said after the incident, troops assaulted the Abu Sayyaf camp and at the height of the gunbattle two of Solaiman’s men also shouted Allahu Akbar. “The last shout followed by a burst of fire. They withdrew; there was no longer resistance [from them," said Mijares, adding that they conducted clearing operations in the area after making sure that all of Abu Sayyaf men had already gone. Mijares said they took pictures of Solaiman before burying him. The troops also seized including documents from the Abu Sayyaf camp before burning it down. - GMANews.TV