TWO alleged members of an Abu Sayyaf-linked crime syndicate were killed in a firefight with lawmen in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Monday, June 22, 2020.
Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the slain crime syndicate members as Ebrahim Ahil and his cohort, Jaripal Ahil, both members of the crime syndicate known as Muloc group, which has links with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG).
She said Ebrahim, who is charged for murder and attempted murder, is listed as the Top 1 most wanted person in the province of Zamboanga del Norte while Jaripal is facing attempted murder case.
Galvez said the two were killed as the firefight broke out while policemen were on law enforcement operation by way of service of a warrant of arrest around 6:50 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Quarry, Candelaria village, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte.
The information officer added a firefight ensued, which lasted for about five minutes, as the suspects, upon sensing the arrival of the policemen, opened fire prompting the lawmen to return fire.
She said the two crime syndicate members were injured and rushed to the Liloy Integrated Hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
She said the policemen recovered from Jaripal a caliber .45 pistol with several rounds of ammunition, a grenade, a hunting knife and other personal belongings and from Ebrahim one grenade, a caliber .45 pistol with several rounds of ammunition, and personal belongings.
Police records showed that the Muloc crime group has a direct link to the Sulu-based ASG sub-leader Idang Susukan.
The crime group is operating the towns of Salug, Liloy, Godod, and Tampilisan in Zamboanga del Norte and was involved in various illegal activities such as extortion, robbery, kidnap-for-ransom, and gun-for-hire, the police said. (SunStar Zamboanga)