JOINT military and police forces have arrested in a law enforcement operation one of the suspects during the August 31, 2021 bomb attack at a government checkpoint in Basilan province, officials said.
Lieutenant General Alredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), identified the arrested suspect as Ernie Hawari alias Kulot, who was wounded during his arrest.
Rosario said Hawari was arrested in a law enforcement operation by way of service of warrant of arrest early Saturday, February 12, in Baimbing village, Lamitan City, Basilan.
Rosario said Hawari was wounded as the operating troops returned fire after the suspect opened fire upon sensing the arrival of the lawmen.
Hawari was rushed to the Lamitan City District Hospital for treatment.
“We sustain our strengthened coordination with the police and other law enforcement units to continuously eliminate the menaces of society and curb unlawful activities in our area of operation,” Rosario said.
“Rest assured that we intensify further our operations especially during this election period to protect the communities from the terror ploys of the enemies of the state,” he added.
Brigadier General Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force Basilan commander, said the troops recovered from Hawari an M-16 Armalite rifle from the suspect with ammunition, two rifle grenades and three M-203 high explosive ammunition.
Gobway said Hawari is one of the three suspects behind the anti-personnel mine explosion in a temporary checkpoint in Campo Uno village, Lamitan City that resulted in the death of one soldier and injured another one on August 31, 2021.
The two soldiers were on duty when the unidentified suspects bombed the checkpoint and snatched the firearm of one of the victims. (SunStar Zamboanga)