Gunman linked to death of SAF 44 killed during gov’t ops in Maguindanao 

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – One of the gunmen involved in the killing of 44 elite police officers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015 was killed during law enforcement operations in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, the Army confirmed on Sunday.

Lt. Colonel Michael Glenn Manansala, 6th Infantry Battalion commander, said a team of police and Army operatives were to serve a warrant of arrest against Bansir Samaon when the latter resisted and, using his caliber .45 pistol, opened fire on government forces about noon on Friday.

Samaon, also known as “Malang” and “Bungo,” was a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an outlawed group that pledge allegiance to ISIS.

“He was a bomb courier of the BIFF and one of the gunmen linked to the killing of Police Special Action Force in 2015,” Manansala said.

“The soldiers only defended themselves when the suspect fired his pistol toward the operating units,” he added.

Samaon’s relatives immediately claimed his body from the local police office and buried it according to Islamic rites.

SAF 44 refers to the 44 members of the elite police Special Action Force killed in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao in a botched police operation against a Malaysian bomb maker on January 25, 2015.

The PNP-SAF was part of state forces tasked to arrest Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was in the US government’s wanted list.

After Marwan was killed, Moro gunmen, both from the BIFF and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), clashed with SAF commandos that left 44 police officers, about 17 Moro gunmen and civilians dead during the 11-hour fierce firefight.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, also lauded the 6th IB troopers and police officers for the successful law enforcement operation.

He called on other BIFF gunmen to lay down guns, surrender and live with their loved ones by taking advantage of the government’s peace and reconciliation program.

I hope you will consider this offer before its too late,” said Rillera, also commander of Army-led Joint Task Force Central (JTFC).

Also on Friday, four BIFF members surrender to Colonel Andre Santos, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander during a rite at the Brigade’s headquarters in Tacurong City.

Santos said the rebels turned over four firearms, including a sniper rifle and anti-personnel mine.

Since January, about 70 BIFF members have surrendered to the Army in Maguindanao and Cotabato provinces.

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JPV