A SUSPECTED member of the Abu Sayyaf’s Urban Terrorist Group (UTG) was killed in a shootout with lawmen in Zamboanga City, the police said Tuesday, January 29.
The shootout happened a day after suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) killing 20 people and injuring 102 others at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in the village of Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.
Chief Inspector Elmer Solon, Police Station 11 chief, identified the UTG member as Mohamar Hasilon alias Weng-Weng, 21, who was slain in a shootout at 9:21 p.m. Monday in Sto. Niño village.
Solon said investigation showed that a shootout ensued when Hasilon pulled a caliber .45 pistol and opened fire upon sensing the approaching team of policemen.
The UTG member was walking along the side of the road at the time he was spotted by the policemen from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion-Zamboanga Peninsula.
He said the suspect fled to an abandoned building and was pursued by the cops where he sustained multiple gunshot wounds as another shootout ensued.
The police official said Hasilon was rushed but did not make it alive to the hospital.
He said recovered from the shootout site was a caliber .45 pistol and a handbag containing bomb-making materials such as one-liter bottle filed with with Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO); detonating cord; electric time fuse; a cellular phone; and an M-26 grenade.
Investigation also showed that Hasilon is known to be an active member of UTG under the leadership of Marzan Ajijul, who operates in the east coast of this city. (SunStar Philippines)