According to a report in The Star, the death of Muamar Askali alias Abu Rami, was confirmed by head of the Central Visayas police office intelligence division Senior Supt Jonathan Cabal.
Abu Rami was one of five gunmen killed in a skirmish with Philippine security forces in Bohol yesterday, the report said.
He was believed to have been one of the few Abu Sayyaf leaders who could speak English. According to the daily, he usually issued the final warnings in videos of hostage executions, including that of Then.
Then was the first Malaysian hostage to have been beheaded by the Abu Sayyaf terror group. He was killed on Nov 17, 2015.
Aside from the militants, three soldiers and a policemen were also reported killed in the clash.