Notorious Abu Sayyaf gunman Mundi Sawadjan very much alive, says Esscom

KOTA KINABALU: Notorious southern Philippines-based Abu Sayyaf gunman Mudzrimar @ Mundi Sawadjan is alive, says Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Deputy Comm Datuk Hamzah Ahmad.

He said that Philippines security forces have confirmed that Mundi remains active and involved in a series of fire fights since July last year with the military in the southern Sulu province of the neighbouring country.

He said that intelligence information was shared by Philippines security forces Joint Task Force Sulu (JTFS) and Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) with Esscom.

In a statement Sunday (Jan 30), DCP Hamzah said that Mundi will remain under Esscom’s wanted list.

Doubts on whether Mundi was still alive were raised after an earlier news report stated that he was killed in a fire fight with Philippines security forces in May last year, raising questions as to why he had been added to the updated ESSCOM wanted list last Thursday (Jan 28).

Deputy Inspector-General Datuk Razarudin Husain on Saturday (Jan 29) had asked Esscom to recheck on the status of Mundi amid media reports that he was already dead.

Meanwhile, regional intelligence sources said that Mundi, who is seen as a possible Emir of the Philippines Darul Islamiyah, which is linked to Islamic State, remains on the run and in hiding following ongoing Philippines military operations against the group.

"Questions about whether he was alive or dead arose after one those encounters but there is enough intelligence to indicate he was very much alive and on the run," the source explained.

Mundi was listed among 20 Abu Sayaff gunmen linked or involved in cross border kidnappings in Sabah waters.

Mundi was sub-commander in the Abu Sayyaf group and has been blamed as the mastermind behind two major attacks in the city of Jolo that included the bombing of the Cathedral.

Mundi is also the nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawdjaan, and widely seen as a key man to lead the Darul Islamiyah.