Basit Usman, the terrorist-bomber who is responsible for the countless deaths of civilians in a series of bombings in Mindanao, was killed in a shootout in Sitio Takeneken, Bgy Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao at about 10:00 am yesterday (May 3). AFP PAO
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines has backtracked on its claim on how alleged top bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman was killed and now echoes the version of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“After our verification, we have learned that Basit Usman entered an MILF area,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc Jr. said on Wednesday.
The government and the MILF earlier had different versions on how Usman was killed last Sunday in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.
BACKSTORY: Govt’s ‘official’ version of Usman killing to match MILF claim
The military earlier said that Usman might have been killed by one of his followers, a government asset, who was after the reward money.
Usman had a bounty of P6.3 million from the Philippine government and $1 million from the US.
The MILF claims Usman was killed in an area controlled by its 118th Base Command.
Cabunoc said, “Elements from the MILF accosted him so that he can be brought to the MILF Central Committee.” But Usman resisted, triggering a firefight that led to his death.
Usman was one of the targets of the Oplan Exodus executed in Mamasapano , Maguindanao, last January. It killed Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, 44 police officers, 18 MILF members and three civilians.
An earlier Inquirer report said that the government was set to announce the official version of the incident, which would watch the MILF’s.
This was expected to boost public trust in MILF following the Mamasapano incident.
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