Following the elimination of terrorists Marwan and Usman, Philippine authorities are hunting down Mohammad Ali alias Muawiyah, a senior Jema'ah Islamiyah member
MANHUNT. The Philippine military is now pursuing a senior member of the Jema'ah Islamiyah. File photo
After the elimination of two bomb experts in
Army Captain
Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the 6th Division, said government troops are
in pursuit of Singaporean extremist Mohammad Ali alias Muawiyah, a senior JI
member protected by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
“He is also a
senior member in their organization (JI) and we are aiming to neutralize the
foreigner,” Petinglay said in a phone interview on Friday, May 8.
Muawiyah was
among those declared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Petinglay said
Muawiyah is still in Maguindanao and was working with local Abdul Basit Usman
until he was killed in a military operation in Guindulungan town,
Maguindanao, on May 3.
Muawiyah has a
$500,000-bounty on his head.
Prepared
for retaliation
Moro National
Liberation Front (MNLF) spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla told a local radio
station that Usman has left behind about "10 to 100 recruits"
reportedly ready to carry out missions.
“The death of
Usman should be not our concern but his 10 to 100 recruits right now. This is
what the government should address,” Fontanilla said.
Petinglay said
the AFP is aware of this, and that troops have been alerted and directed to
exert proactive measures to counter any such plans.
MILF chief
negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the MILF killed Usman, following a long-standing
order from the MILF leadership to track down terrorists. The AFP has validated
this.
In the aftermath
of the Mamasapano clash on January 25, the MILF was accused of coddling
terrorists, including Marwan, who was killed in the police operation.
Meanwhile, a town
mayor claimed that MILF ground troops buried the remains of Usman in
Guindulugan town.
Guindulungan
Mayor Midpantao Midtimbang based the claim on feedback from town residents, who
reported to him that members of the MILF's 118th Base Command reportedly buried
Usman in the village
of Muti
He said Usman's
graveyard was 5 kilometers from his office but cannot give the exact location.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/92542-ph-troops-pursue-muawiyah-ji
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