sergeant diokno was part of the military operation led by lieutenant colonel noel s. buan that neutralized abu sayyaf sub-leader hamsiraji marusi sali on 8 april 2004. buan, commanding the 1st scout ranger battalion in basilan, philippines, and his men figured in a firefight with sali and six others including sali's younger brother sahir, also called yashier sali. hamsiraji sali was implicated in the kidnapping of an american jeffrey schilling, the 2001 dos palmas kidnappings and had a $1m bounty on his head. all six abu sayyaf members were killed. buan's troops suffered one killed and four wounded, including buan himself.