The Bush administration congratulated the president of the Philippines and applauded Friday’s presumed death of a major Muslim rebel leader linked to the yearlong kidnapping of two Kansas missionaries, Martin and Gracia Burnham.

Abu Sabaya’s apparent death at sea, during a fight with Philippine government forces as he sought to flee in a boat, was a significant development in the U.S.-led war on terror, President Bush said.

Sabaya, 39, led a guerrilla gang that the United States contends is part of the international al-Qaida terror network. The Abu Sayyaf band has terrorized the southern Philippines with a string of kidnappings.

“They kidnapped, they killed, and today their leader met his maker thanks to one of our coalition partners,” Bush said during a visit to Orlando, Fla.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld also welcomed the development and praised Philippine leaders “for their continued battle against terrorism in their nation.”

Rumsfeld told reporters that Abu Sabaya and six other members of the extremist group were on a 25-foot boat intercepted and sunk Friday. Four survivors are in custody, he said.