The brother of Abu Sayyaf Group leader and bomber Mundi Sawadjaan and three others were killed in a clash in Jolo, Sulu early Sunday, the military said.
The terrorists fired upon authorities as they were about to serve an arrest warrant against Abu Sayyaf subleader Injam Yadah at around 2 a.m. Sunday, said Major Gen. William Gonzales, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF)-Sulu and the Philippine Army’s 11th Infantry Division.
Al-al Sawadjaan, Mundi’s youngest brother, died on the spot along with Yadah and a follower identified as alias Raup, along with another unidentified ASG member.
“All of our forces under JTF-Sulu are doubling our efforts to also catch Mundi Sawadjaan. His brothers are now dead, and we are optimistic that he will also be neutralized,” Gonzales said.
Al-Al Sawadjaan allegedly had some knowledge in bomb making and had already pledged as a suicide bomber, the military said.
Mujafal Sawadjaan, another brother of Mundi, was killed in Patikul, Sulu in April.
Mundi is suspected to be involved in the twin bombings in Jolo last August 24, 2020, which killed seven soldiers, a policeman, and six civilians, and injured 75 others.
Yadah was involved in the kidnapping of five Indonesian nationals in Malaysian waters last year. They were rescued in Tawi-Tawi earlier this year, according to Lt. Col. Wilfredo Borgonia, commander of the 35th Infantry Battalion.