Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan (died July 2020) was a Filipino militant affiliated with the Abu Sayyaf. He was the leader of the group which has associated itself with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) since 2014. On July 6, 2020, Hajan Sawadjaan was severely wounded during an encounter with the government troops in Barangay Bakong, Patikul, Sulu and died from his injuries a few days later. After the encounter with the government troops, he was found and buried by the group of his cousin Mundi Sawadjaan, an Abu Sayyaf sub-leader.
Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan |
| Born | Jolo, Sulu, Philippines |
| Died | July 2020[1][2][3] Patikul, Sulu, Philippines |
| Allegiance |  Moro National Liberation Front(until 1992)  Abu Sayyaf(1992–2020) ISIL |
| Battles / wars | Moro conflict |
Early life
editHajan Sawadjaan was born in Jolo, Sulu, to a peasant family. He likely only finished primary education according to a source from the Philippine military. Due to financial difficulties, he worked as a lumberjack in Patikul and married a woman native of Tanum.[4]
Career
editAs an elder, he served as a preacher in a local mosque. His involvement in preaching earned him the title of "hatib" or sermon leader in Arabic.[4]
Sawadjaan first joined the secessionist group, Moro National Liberation Front and was under commander Radulan Sahiron. He went with Sahiron in breaking away from the MNLF to join the Abu Sayyaf in 1992. At that time the group has been recently organized by Yusop Jikiri who was also a leader of the MNLF.[4]
Abu Sayaff would affiliate themselves to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
In 2017, Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon was killed during the Battle of Marawi.[4] Hapilon was the designated as "emir" for ISIL operations in Southeast Asia. According to Filipino authorities Sawadjaan sometime in 2018 has pledged to become the leader of ISIL affiliated groups in the Philippines. A United States report likewise said that Sawadjaan is serving as acting "emir" of ISIL in the region although has maintained that there are no confirmed direct links with Filipino militants with the central organization of the Middle East-based ISIL.[5]
References
edit- ^ Gomez, Jim (25 August 2020). "Army chief: Militant leader likely killed in Philippines". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "Army unit to defeat Abu Sayyaf 'soon'". SunStar Philippines. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ Pareño, Roel (9 January 2021). "Military installs new brigade commander in Sulu". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Amid loss of leaders, unknown bandit rises in Philippines". Sun Star Philippines. Associated Press. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ Mangosing, Frances (6 February 2019). "'Hatib Sawadjaan is overall ISIS leader in the Philippines' — Año". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 26 July 2019.