Four suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were killed after they fought lawmen serving warrants for their arrest for murder, kidnapping and carnapping offenses in Lamitan, Basilan on Thursday.
The Philippine National Police Public Information Office identified the suspects as Remie Ganie, Mando Morales, Jack Akalulu, and a certain “Baradi” while Dawan Morales was captured by authorities.
The suspects resisted arrest and fired at the lawmen, leading to a lengthy gunbattle. They were all believed to be under the command of ASG sub-leader Radzmil Jannatul.
Authorities recovered one KG9 Cal. 9mm submachine pistol, one Cal. 45 pistol, a shotgun, one Cal. 30 rifle, and numerous fired cartridges of different calibers at the encounter site. Francisco Tuyay
PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar lauded all police units involved in the operation but reminded them to remain on alert for possible retaliatory attacks by the local terror group.
Meanwhile, residents of Unkaya Pukan, Basilan surrendered 15 assorted unlicensed firearms to military authorities.
Mayor Lutfurrahman Maturan presented the firearms to 18th Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Egverr Jonathan Abutin, in turnover rites and a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Tipo- Tipo.
The firearms included nine shotguns, one 6.5mm Arisaka type 44 Carbine, one M1 Carbine, one M1 Garand rifle, one cal. 22 rimfire bold action, one M16A1 rifle, and one M 203 with 40mm detached.
Mayor Maturan said there are many ways to achieve peace, and one is through the surrender of loose firearms.
He also commended the PNP and AFP whom he considered as the best partners in achieving and maintaining peace in the municipality.
Joint Task Force Basilan commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. revealed that the AFP has gained a total of 170 firearms since January
2021.
“This laudable accomplishment is worthy of praise and accolade. With the implementation of the Small and Light Weapons (SALW) program as the new strategy to win peace in Basilan, we are expecting for more firearms to be handed over to the government forces,” he said.