Al Habsi was an Abu Sayyaf commander and a notorious kidnapper who had sailed across the sea border into Malaysia to snatch tourists and sailors for ransom.

He was slain in a clash with Philippine marines on Friday in the jungles between the towns of Indanan and Parang in the Sulu province of Philippines. Al Habsi’s body was identified by military officials and captured Abu Sayyaf militants.

Al Habsi was among four top Abu Sayyaf commanders able to order major kidnappings on the Sabah and southern Philippines sea borders.

Still on the run are Al Habsi’s comrade Sarip Mura, together with the ageing Radulan Sahiron and Hatib Sawadjaan.

Al Habsi has been blamed for the abductions of dozens of Indonesian, Vietnamese and Malaysian crewmen of cargo ships and tugboats plying the busy sea border between the southern Philippines and Malaysia.

He was believed to be holding several abducted Vietnamese sailors in Sulu’s jungles although the hostages were apparently not with him during the clash.

A kidnapped Malaysian man was beheaded by Al Habsi’s group in November 2015.

The Philippine military has recently been undertaking a major offensive against the Abu Sayyaf, which is notorious for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings.