THE alleged aide of slain terrorist leader Isnilon Hapilon was killed in a police operation before dawn Tuesday, February 2, 2021, in Zamboanga City, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas said.
Arrasid Adjing Halissam, also known as Guru Ara, allegedly resisted arrest and engaged policemen in a firefight at around 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Halissam had a standing arrest warrant for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Police recovered one unit caliber 45 pistol, chamber loaded with inserted magazine, one hand grenade and improvised explosive device.
“The police operation was initiated in relation to the alleged retaliation plan of Sulu-based ASG under subleader Mundi Sawadjaan to spread atrocities in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basulta areas,” Sinas said.
ASG stands for Abu Sayyaf Group, a notorious terrorist group operating in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.
PNP-Intelligence Group acting Director Warren de Leon said Halissam was the “trusted man” of Hapilon, a leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group who was also the emir of Islamic State militants in Southeast Asia. Hapilon was killed by military forces during the Marawi Siege in 2017.
De Leon said Halissam was also the “facilitator” of slain Malaysian international terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan, who was killed by the police in a bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.
In the same operation, 44 Special Action Force troopers were also killed.
De Leon said Halissam was involved in various terrorist activities in Zamboanga.
He cited the kidnapping and beheading of Doroteo Gonzales in 2009; abduction of Kevin Lunsmann, Gerfa Yeatts Lunsmann and Romnick Jakaria in July 2011; abduction of Warren Richard Rodwell in December 2011; abduction of Chinese Nationals Yuan Lin Kai and Jian Luo in June 4, 2012; abduction of Korean Nwi Seong Hong in January 2015 and Sabrina Ikbala-Voon on February 19, 2014.
The suspect also took part in a bus terminal Bombing in Guiwan, Zamboanga City on January 23, 2015 that resulted in the death of two persons and injuries to 52 others.
De Leon said Halissam was also involved in several atrocities perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group under late Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who was killed in an encounter with military forces in Patikul, Sulu in July 2020.
These included the bombing in the Jolo Cathedral in 2019 which killed over 20 people and injured over a hundred; and bombings in two military detachments in Indanan, Sulu in July and September 2019, which killed three soldiers, and in Jolo town plaza in August 2020, which killed at least 14 people and wounded 75 others. (SunStar Philippines)