Suspected bomber slain in drug raid in Sultan Kudarat

KORONADAL CITY –– A man suspected to have carried out bombings in Davao City and Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat province was killed during a drug raid on Thursday, police said.

Lt. Colonel Lino Capellan, spokesperson of the Soccsksargen regional police, identified the suspect as Al Rashed Sungan Layao, who transacted with an undercover agent for the sale of shabu (crystal meth) in his place in Barangay New Cebu of Lambayong town in Sultan Kudarat.

The police officer, who acted as poseur-buyer, managed to secure a sachet of suspected shabu from Layao.

But Layao eventually sensed he was dealing with a cop, hence, pulled a handgun and traded shots, said Capellan.

The rest of the law enforcers then engaged Layao, who suffered various gunshot wounds in his body.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

Police found nine sachets of shabu, a cal. 45 pistol, and a fragmentation grenade in Layao’s place.

Police also turned over the remains of Layao to officials of Barangay New Cebu for the relatives to claim.

Citing intelligence information, Capellan said Layao was a member of a faction of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Abu Toraife.

He added that Layao was associated with a Singaporean bomb maker named Mauwiya, a wanted terrorist believed to be hiding in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao.

Capellan also said Layao was involved in the bombing of the Roxas night market in Davao City in September 2016, and of a food house in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last April 2019.

Aside from peddling drugs, Capellan said Layao served the BIFF as a bomb courier, liaison, and monitor of the movement of government troops.

Brig. Gen. Michael John Dubria, Soccsksargen police director, lauded the police’s raid against Layao.

“Maintain the level of alertness, intensify intelligence-driven operation, and set your mindset to be always a step ahead of our enemy,” Dubria said.

LZB