AN ALLEGED member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in gun smuggling and kidnapping activities in Zamboanga City and Sulu province was killed in a shootout with police on Saturday, February 20, 2021.
Wahid Sahid allegedly engaged police in a gunfight during a drug bust in Sitio Buton, Barangay Kansipat in Panamao, Sulu, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Debold Sinas said in a statement.
“Upon the signal of the poseur-buyer, the arresting team immediately rushed to the house of the target person who, however, fired instantly at them with an M14 rifle. The law enforcers immediately sought cover and fired back towards the suspect that resulted in his death,” Sinas said in a statement on Saturday.
The operation was led by personnel from the Anti-Kidnapping Group Mindanao Field Unit.
Sinas said Sahid was an active member of the ASG under sub-leader Almujir Yadah based in Sulu.
Sahid had provided high-powered firearms to the terror group in Zamboanga City and Sulu province, Sinas said.
He was monitored in Barangay Labuan, Zamboanga City in January 2021, possibly planning another kidnapping, Sinas added.
Recovered from the scene of the incident were one M14 rifle with inserted magazine and ammunition; one M14 rifle with inserted magazine and ammunition; one M14 rifle without magazine; one M4 caliber 5.56mm with inserted short magazine and ammunition with attached M203 grenade launcher; and two 40mm ammunition. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)