AUTHORITIES killed an alleged “trusted bomb maker” of the late Abu Sayyaf Group sub leader Furuji Indama in Basilan before dawn Saturday, June 5, 2021, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said.
Aroy Ittot, who was a top priority target of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-Bar), engaged the police in a firefight at around 2:20 a.m. Saturday, Eleazar said.
The police were trying to serve a warrant for Ittot’s arrest for the crime of murder.
Eleazar said the suspect had an M16 rifle. Police also recovered various high-powered firearms and ammunition as well as components of an improvised explosive device.
Eleazar said Ittot was involved in various terrorist activities including the roadside bombing incident in Tuburan, Basilan in 2018 that targeted the convoy of Mayor Durie Kalahal of Tuburan, Basilan, and the IED attack in Barangay Colonia, Lamitan City on July 31, 2019, which killed at least 10 people including soldiers.
Ittot was also implicated in the harassment of Mayor Ibrahim Ballaho of Mohammad Ajul, Basilan while conducting community service in Tuburan, Basilan. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)