Philippines: New Abu Sayyaf leader is 'Islamic Scholar'

Trained in Syria.

The Abu Sayyaf, the smallest and most deadly Muslim militant group in the Philippines, has chosen a Syria-trained Islamic scholar as its new leader, a senior general said on Wednesday.
Lieutenant-General Romeo Tolentino said the new militant leader, Yasser Igasan, was chosen three weeks ago after a straw poll by Abu Sayyaf field commanders at a rebel base on the southern island of Jolo.

"We believed that Igasan has taken over the leadership due to his religious background,"
Tolentino told reporters after meeting U.S. military officials at the army's main base in Manila.
"He's not new to the organization. He was among the original founders of Abu Sayyaf, together with the group's first leader, Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani."

Igasan would replace Janjalan's younger brother, Khaddafy, killed in a clash with Marines in mountains on Jolo in September 2006. Khaddafy's death was confirmed only in January after DNA tests by U.S. authorities. He was the second leader of the group after his brother was killed in December 1998.

He may be an Islamic scholar be he has NO job security. Bwa-ha-ha.