Usman still in Maguindanao—AFP
Basit Usman FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The elusive bombmaker Abdul Basit Usman, who escaped a police operation in Maguindanao last January, has not left the province, the military said on Tuesday.
“Si Usman as of today he is monitored to be just roaming around sa Maguindanao sa SPMS box,” Armed Forces Public Affairs Office chief Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said at a press briefing.
BACKSTORY: Basit Usman wounded, hiding in Maguindanao–Mangudadatu
Cabunoc was referring to Salvo-Pagatin-Mamasapano-Shariff Aguak (SPMS), the areas where the military is doing an all-out offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters since last month.
The fighting in Maguindanao started after a “rido” or clan war between the BIFF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front early February. A few days later, the military launched its operations to go after the BIFF and Usman’s group.
On Sunday night, Mohammad Ali Tambako, a former top-ranking leader of the BIFF and who was believed to be a coddler of Usman, was arrested in General Santos City.
He also leads the Justice for Islamic Movement, a splinter group of the BIFF. These groups, together with the MILF, figured with members of the Special Action Force in a mission that targeted top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan last January. The operation killed 44 police officers, 18 MILF members and five civilians.
BACKSTORY: Gov’t security forces nab coddler of terrorists
Bombings in Gen San?
A day after the arrest of Tambako, his house in Doña Soledad Subdivision, Brgy. Labangan in General Santos, was raided by security forces.
The combined police and military troops found bomb-making materials including detonating cords, assorted wires, blasting caps, Christmas light bulbs, SIM cards and improvised circuit boxes on Monday morning.
Cabunoc said they were believed to carry out bombings in the area.
“It was relayed to our headquarters na may balak sila manggulo, may kasama na posibilidad (they have plans of creating chaos, there’s a possibility) to divert attention of the ongoing law enforcement operations in the SMPX box and nearby municipalities,” he said.
Fighting continues
A BIFF rebel was killed in clashes with the Philippine Marines in Shariff Saydona in Maguindanao on Monday, Cabunoc said.
The rebel was identified as Karie Uga Dia, 18. His body was turned over to the Maguindanao police.
More clashes between the government soldiers and the BIFF were also reported on Sunday and Monday, Cabunoc said.
READ: ‘Misencounter’ feared in AFP push vs BIFF
The government troops were able to recover one M79 grenade launcher and three 40mm ammunition.
The military said the fighting in Maguindanao has killed 117 persons and 53 wounded.
It has also killed six soldiers.
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