Indon jihadist among dead in Mamasapano

From Tempo (Feb 21): Indon jihadist among dead in Mamasapano

An Indonesian jihadist was reported to be among those killed by Philippine National Police-Special Action Force commandos during the January 25 encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

This was disclosed by sources from the security sector privy to the ongoing investigation on the bloody clash that claimed the lives of 44 police commandos.

Aside from the Indonesian, sources also gave the names of 24 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters allegedly killed in the firefight.

The Indonesian was identified as Amir Ibrahim, who was in the country reportedly to help international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” train Moro rebels.

The sources identified the slain BIFF gunmen as Salah Mahmod, who is a brother of Commander “Resbak”; Tonton Budsal, alias “Boy 60”; Mursid Saga, alias “Or”; Aminudin Akmad, Zacariah Mustapha, and Paglala Kemod.

The MILF fatalities were Mahmod Saga Monib, Salahudin Salindatu, Esmail Abid, Abdurahim Abdila, Daglala Kahmed, Ali Ismael, Musib Hasim, Omar Dagadas, Rasul Zukarnin, Mamarisa Omar, Nadruden Langalem, Ginibun Angkay, Suweb Kemod, Nasrullah Saptula, Salahudin Salindatu, Mahmod Salah, Kaharudin Baluno, and Abdulrahim Abdulah.

  

Two more names were listed among the fatalities, Zaif Alima, from Digal, Datu Paglas Maguindanao; and Bagnal Mukalis from Buluan, Maguindanao. They were initially reported as Civilain Armed Forces Geographical Unit members but sources said they are not in the CAFGU Active Auxilliary roster.

Marwan was the target of the PNP-SAF in a covert operation called “Oplan: Exodus” along with Filipino bomber Basit Usman on January 25 in Mamasapano.

Marwan, known as the “Osama bin Laden” of Southeast Asia, was killed in the operation, but Usman managed to escape. Marwan and Usman each carry $5 million and $1 million bounties, respectively.

While the PNP-SAF succeeded in their mission to get Marwan, 44 police commandos were killed in the ensuing firefight with Moro rebels.

There were reports that two Caucasian-looking men were also killed in the encounter, but authorities have yet to confirm this.

The United States Embassy had issued a statement that there were no US service member casualties in the Mamasapano operation.According to the US Embassy, “the operation (to get Marwan) was planned and executed by Philippine authorities” and that “upon the request of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, US service members serving in JSOTF-P (Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines) only responded to assist in the evacuation of casualties after the firefight.”

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/02/21/indon-jihadist-among-dead-in-mamasapano/