AN ABU Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandit was killed in a firefight as the government troops launched a pursuit operation against the bandits behind the twin bombing of a Catholic church in Jolo, Sulu, the military reported Wednesday.
Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information officer, said the firefight ensued around 5:40 a.m. in Latih village, Patikul, Sulu.
Besana identified the slain ASG bandit as Ommal Usop, a follower of the ASG’s Ajang-Ajang group.
He said the firefight ensued as Usop resisted arrest prompting the troops to return fire in a raid in Latih village.
He said the troops recovered a caliber .45 pistol with five live ammunition and a sniper scope while the remains of Usop was turned over to the village officials for proper disposition.
The Westmincom official said the target of the raid was a certain Kamah, a member of the Ajang-Ajang group led by Ben Saudi.
He said Kamah is one of the four suspects behind the twin bombing at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in the village of Walled City, Jolo, Sulu.
Besana said Kamah, who is the logistics officer of the ASG, managed to escape during the raid.
Latest list released by the Westmincom headquarters indicated that 20 people were killed while 102 others wounded in the twin bombing. (SunStar Philippines)