From the Mindanao Examiner (May 4): Gunmen raid tourist island in Zamboanga Norte, seize 3 people
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE – Gunmen raided a tourist island in Zamboanga del Norte province in southern Philippines and seized 3 people before dawn Monday, police said.
Police said at least 15 armed men swooped down on Aliguay Island near Dakak Resort in the historic city of Dapitan and took two unarmed Coast Guard personnel – Gringo Villaruz and Rodlyn Pagaling – and then seized the island’s chieftain Roberto Buligao and sped off on two motorboats.
Insp. Dahlan Samuddin, a regional police spokesman, said they have alerted police units in the province and that security forces were tracking down the abductors, who fled toward the southern part of Zamboanga del Norte.
He said the gunmen were all clad in camouflage uniform. “The incident transpired around 1.50 in the morning. Roberto Buligao, the village chairman, and two Coast Guard personnel were abducted by more or less 15 unidentified men wearing camouflage uniform, and with long firearms on two white motorized boats,” Samuddin told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the abduction. The island is just 45 minutes by boat from Dakak Resort and is a favorite destination of local and foreign tourists.
The abductions occurred a day after 4 gunmen also seized a finance officer of a mining firm in Tawi-Tawi’s Bongao town. The victim, Nonong Garcia, was abducted by masked gunmen from the Beachside Inn in Simandagit village, according to a report by television giant GMA News.
From the Manila Standard Today (May 5): Photo:Maritime cooperation
Admiral Yuji Sato (right), commander of Japan’s Coast Guard, walks with senior Philippine coast guard personnel during arrival honors at the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters in Manila on Monday. Sato is set to meet with his Philippine Coast Guard counterpart Admiral Rodolfo Isorene on the 5th Maritime Law Enforcement exercise to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea. AFP
From the Manila Standard Today (May 5): MILF coddled Usman all along, says general
MILITARY officials admitted on Monday that the killing of Filipino bomb-maker Abdul Basit Usman on Saturday was a “passport for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in Congress,” but it also showed that the Usman was being coddled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
End of the road. This undated photo released on May 4 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines shows the body of Abdul Basit Usman, a Filipino on the US list of most wanted terrorists, after he was killed in Maguindanao while being escorted by fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. AFP“The truth is, Usman and his men were being coddled in MILF territory at the time of his death. That is a fact,” said a general staff officer, who asked not be named for fear of official sanctions.
The officer made the remark as military chief Gen. Pio Gregorio Catapang told reporters that Usman was killed by his own men because of the $1 million bounty that the United States government offered for his capture or death.
“Another truth is that Usman is Wahid Tundok’s ticket to freedom,” the general said, referring to the commander of the MILF 118th Base Command, which took responsibility for Usman’s killing and brought Usman’s body to the MILF’s Camp Dirapanan for burial.
The general said Tundoc is one of the MILF members who was allegedly involved in the Mamasapano incident and the MILF was very concerned that he was facing criminal charges so it was decided that he lead his men in an operation to kill Usman.
The general said it was agreed that if Tundoc could present Usman as a “gift,” the government may reconsider the charges that are being prepared against him and allow him re-join society upon the approval of the BBL.
Tundoc was listed as among the MILF fighters facing criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for their involvement in the killing of 44 SAF commandos at the cornfield in Mamasapano town.
“It was a betrayal,” said Absalom Cerveza, spokesman of the Moro National Liberation Front, citing field reports from their commanders.
Cerveza said MNLF commanders have issued alerts to their units in view of the unfolding events in Mindanao, especially since they are expecting the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to retaliate against the government because of Usman’s killing.
“The MNLF had reacted to the death of Usman, especially on the actions made by the MILF against their former comrades in the underground organization,” Cereveza said, adding that Usman’s killing will likely spark hostilities between the MILF and the BIFF.
“This will ignited a complex problem. War could erupt,” Cerveza said, adding that the MILF may have decided to have Usman killed to erase the culpability of the MILF in the death of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last January 25.
“It’s a game play,” Cerveza said, expressing doubt that the killing of Usman would erase public doubts on the MILF’s sincerity in relation to the BBL.
“The issue of passing the law in moot and academic. The law will be passed, but as to whether the law will satisfy the MILF, whether the law is acceptable to the MILF, that is a big question,” Cerveza said.
“The MILF is only being used by the military,” Cerveza added. “The military is using the MILF as front against rebel groups, a tool to divide and rule.” Cerveza said.
A Filipino on the United States’ list of most wanted “terrorists” has been killed in a firefight in the southern Philippines, Muslim rebel leaders and the military said Monday.
Earlier, MILF vice chairman Ghazali Jaafar confirmed that Usman was killed in a remote mountainous area while being escorted by MILF members.
“We can confirm that Usman is dead and his body was buried in accordance with Muslim tradition,” Jaafar told AFP, but he refused to say who killed him.
The MILF is seeking to finalise an accord, signed last year, with the government to end four decades of fighting in which about 120,000 people have died.
Security forces had been hunting Usman since he escaped from a January police raid that killed Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, an alleged bomb maker who was the subject of a $5-million US government bounty.
Usman, accused of repeated bomb attacks in the southern Philippines, was the subject of a $1-million US bounty.
The January raid, conducted in MILF territory, also led to the death of 44 police commandoes as rebels fought back, setting back efforts to finalise the peace deal.
The MILF has since then been under intense political pressure to show it is a reliable peace partner.
Jaafar said Usman was killed as MILF rebels were escorting him to the group’s leaders to surrender, adding that he probably did not know he was being taken back to the MILF leaders.
“There was a firefight along the way. Usman could have sensed that he was being double-crossed,” Jaafar said.
However he refused to give any more details as to who killed Usman, saying only that the circumstances of the firefight were under investigation.
Military chief General Gregorio Catapang said Usman had been killed, but that it remained unclear as to who killed him.
From the Business World (May 4): ‘MILF role in Usman death to favor Bangsamoro’
A MORO rebel group’s role in helping neutralize Abdul Basit Usman is a “concrete” reason for the public and lawmakers to support the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Malacañang said yesterday.
“We understand that our beloved lawmakers and citizens have been searching for a concrete manifestation that will prove the strong working relationship and cooperation of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in promoting the peace process,” Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma told reporters in Filipino during a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday. “During this time, this is what the different stakeholders are looking for.” Mr. Coloma was referring to reports that Usman, a Filipino on the United States’ list of most wanted terrorists, was killed in the fire fight while being escorted by members of the MILF, its vice-chairman Ghazali Jaafar said in a report by the Agence-France Presse.
“We can confirm that Usman is dead and his body was buried in accordance with Muslim tradition,” Jaafar told AFP, but he refused to say who killed him.
The MILF is seeking to finalize an accord, signed last year, with the government to end four decades of fighting in which about 120,000 people have died.
Security forces had been hunting Usman since he escaped from a January police raid that killed Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, an alleged bomb maker who was the subject of a $5-million US government bounty.
Usman, accused of repeated bomb attacks in the southern Philippines, was the subject of a $1-million US bounty.
The January raid, conducted in MILF territory, also led to the death of 44 police commandos as rebels fought back, setting back efforts to finalize the peace deal.
The MILF has since then been under intense political pressure to show it is a reliable peace partner.
USMAN KILLED WHILE BEING ESCORTED BY MILF
Jaafar said Usman was killed as MILF rebels were escorting him to the group’s leaders to surrender, adding that he probably did not know he was being taken back to the MILF leaders.
“There was a fire fight along the way. Usman could have sensed that he was being double-crossed,” Jaafar said.
However, he refused to give any more details as to who killed Usman, saying only that the circumstances of the fire fight were under investigation.
Mr. Coloma also said that the MILF’s role in neutralizing Usman will add further to the confidence-building measures between them and the Philippine government. “This will help because there is something we can look back on wherein there were opportunities in the past where the MILF showed they can be a trusted partner of the government in the peace process,” he said.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gregorio Pio P. Catapang, Jr. said Usman had been killed, but that it remained unclear as to who killed him.
“Basit Usman is dead, as to the circumstances of what happened during that encounter, it’s up to (the investigation),” Mr. Catapang told reporters.
The military said five of Usman’s followers had also died in the battle, and that some of his own men may have double-crossed him.
The alleged shoot-out occurred “Sitio Takeneken, Barangay Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao.” This was said to be “near the vicinity of Camp Afghan,” a temporary relocation site for MILF members who voluntarily vacated their as the military was conducting operations against Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in February.
MILF members at the camp reportedly “discovered the dead bodies” and recovered an M60 general purpose machine gun, a rocket-propelled grenade and a caliber 5.56 mm bushmaster rifle, according to the AFP.
Military sources on the ground “believe that there was infighting among Usman’s followers fueled by the tussle for the huge monetary reward that was put on his head.”
Asked if they were able to obtain DNA samples, Mr. Catapang said “that will be confirmed by Major General Edmund R. Pangilinan.” Mr. Pangilinan is the commander of the 6th Infantry division. Mr. Catapang said that Mr. Pangilinan has been instructed to conduct an investigation regarding Usman’s death.
Security forces accuse Usman of carrying out at least nine bombing incidents in the south, including an attack in the port city of General Santos in 2002 that killed 15 people and wounded 60 others.
The US State Department’s Web site describes him as “a bomb-making expert with links to the Jemaah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf Group terrorist organizations” leading him to be considered a threat to American and Filipino citizens and interests.
As part of the peace pact, the MILF agreed to give up its independence ambitions in exchange for an autonomous homeland.
The government and the MILF are racing to finalize the accord by the middle of next year.
From the Business World (May 4): China offer to allow use of reclaimed area ‘insincere’
CHINA’S OFFER to allow the United States and other nations to use islands it reclaimed at the disputed South China Sea has been dismissed by the Philippines as “insincere” and an “attempt to deflect international criticism.”
A satellite image of what is claimed to be an airstrip at the top end of Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. -- AFP
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) made these remarks after China’s Defense Minister Admiral Wu Shengli was quoted to have said last week that Beijing “welcome[s] international organizations, the US and relevant countries to use [the] facilities, when conditions are ripe, to conduct cooperation on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief.”
The US has rejected the offer.
According to DFA Assistant Secretary Charles C. Jose, China’s suggestion only came after it got flak from international community, particularly from the G7 foreign ministers and US President Barack Obama.
“We can say that [the offer is not sincere] because it came out after the G7 statement, and especially after (President Barack) Obama gave a statement. [Only after did] they come up with these things, like offering to use these facilities. We think that’s only attempt of China to deflect international criticisms of the aggressive behavior that they’re doing right now in South China Sea,” Mr. Jose said in his regular briefing.
The DFA spokesperson also took the offer as an effort to move the attention away from the damages caused by the China’s reclamation work to the biodiversity of the contested islands.
“We should not be distracted by these things. Instead we should focus on the core issues. The most recent of this and most serious one is the reclamation work that they’re doing because of the massive and irreparable damage this is causing to the environment and ecosystem,” Mr. Jose explained.
Marine resources -- including coral reef ecosystems -- destroyed by China’s reclamation activities in the disputed West Philippine Sea have reached $109.55 million, a national scientist of the Philippines claimed last month.
From ABS-CBN (May 4): Mining exec abducted in Tawi-Tawi
TAWI-TAWI -- A
mining firm officer was abducted in Bongao town in this province on Sunday
evening.
Capt. Zosimo de
Guzman, commanding officer of Joint Task Group Tawi-Tawi, identified the victim
as Nonong Garcia, a native of Pangasinan.
De Guzman said
Garcia had been staying in a beachfront inn in Barangay Simandagit to look
after the company's mining operation in the province.
De Guzman said
Garcia was outside the inn at around 10:30 p.m. when he was abducted by about
four armed men. The victim was forced to board a motorized pump boat, which
allegedly headed towards Languyan town.
It was already
late when the policemen and barangay officials arrived in the area.
De Guzman said
they immediately conducted a search and rescue operation after the abduction.
The Tawi-Tawi
provincial police office is now looking for witnesses who may be able to
identify the abductors.
On Monday, two
Philippine Coast Guard personnel and a barangay chairman in DapitanCity,
Zamboanga del Norte province were also abducted by armed men.
Meanwhile, Naga,
Zamboanga Sibugay mayor Gemma Adana remains in the hands of her abductor.
Adana was snateched by armed men from her
residence in Barangay Taytay Manubo lasy April 6.
From ABS-CBN (May 4): MILF says AFP, PNP had no role in Usman's death
The Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) has confirmed that wanted terrorist Abdul Basit Usman
is dead.
MILF First Vice
Chairman Ghazali Jaafar told ABS-CBN News Central Mindanao on Monday that they
received the report on Usman's death yesterday but it took time them time to
confirm it.
Jaafar also
confirmed that Usman died in Barangay Muti in Guindulungan. However, Jaafar
said the MILF is conducting its own investigation as to how exactly Usman died.
Jaafar said the
MILF received two different stories regarding Usman's death. The first one is
that Usman died during an encounter between his followers and MILF fighters.
The second
version was that Usman was arrested by the MILF's 118th Base Command but the
wanted terrorist and his followers resisted, resulting in a firefight that
caused his death.
Jaafar said he is
more convinced with the second version. He said the MILF Central Committee had
a standing order to all commanders on the ground that Usman be brought before
the MILF's central leadership once he is arrested.
"Meron
kaming utos. Titingnan ng Central Committee at kakausapin. Iyan lang muna. As
to the reason, hindi namin pwedeng sabihin," Jaafar said.
The MILF also
said there were no military or police forces involved in the death of Usman.
Jaafar also denied that Usman was seeking refuge in an MILF area.
Jaafar also
stressed they are not and will never be interested in the $1 million bounty on
Usman's head. He said the MILF leadership will not also allow MILF commanders
and members to go after the reward money.
"Not
interested sa reward money. Hindi rin namin tatanggapin. Hindi namin papayagan
ang mga commander namin na gawin iyon," Jaafar said.
The MILF
reiterated that it remains committed to the peace process despite what happened
during the January 25 Mamasapano raid.
The timing when the terrorist Basit Usman was killed is dubious. According to the militant group Bayan, the government can use this to promote Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The Senate and Congress agrees that they will prioritize the BBL if it will arrive at the plenary.
Kaduda-duda umano ang timing ng pagkakapatay sa teroristang si Basit Usman. Sabi ng grupong Bayan, pwedeng gamitin ito ng pamahalaan sa pagsulong ng Bangsamoro Basic Law. Nagkasundo naman ang Senado at Kamara na bibigyang prayoridad ang BBL kapag dumating ito sa plenaryo. I-Bandila mo, Zen Hernandez. Bandila, May 4, 2015, Lunes
From Ang Malaya (May 4): Raytheon’s first Defense Threat Reduction Agency project in Southeast Asia inaugurated in PHL
The National Coast Watch Center at Philippine Coast Guard Headquarters in Manila was formally inaugurated last week, April 28. The center will coordinate and implement the whole of government efforts to protect the Philippine national interests against security threats, enforce national sovereignty and sovereign rights, and fulfill international responsibilities and obligations throughout the maritime jurisdiction of the country.
Establishment of the NCWC will promote maritime safety, enforce maritime laws, protect the marine environment and contribute to economic development.
“It shall be equipped with the needed capabilities to achieve maritime situational awareness, coordinated inter-agency response, and disposition in accordance with the rule of law. This will be done in phases until full-mission capability is achieved,” said Undersecretary Jose Luis M Alano, NCWC Secretariat. The center is on its initial phase.
The government of United States provided $20 million for the said center.
“Maritime domain awareness is crucial for the Philippines as it increases its abilities to thwart smuggling, illegal fishing, other criminal activities as well as improving defense capacity,” the US Embassy in Manila said.
US firm Raytheon won the contract in August 2013 to design and construct the National Coast Watch Center. The contract included support integration of data from various agencies into the NCWC; and provide acquisition, installation and training on an automatic identification system as well as radio communications for the Government of the Philippines.
The NCWC is the first Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) project of Raytheon in Southeast Asia.
From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): AFP chief confirms death of Basit Usman, five other terrorists in Maguindanao
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen.
Gregorio Pio Catapang on Monday confirmed the death of Filipino terrorist and
bomb-maker Basit Usman and five of his followers who were reported killed
following a shootout with fellow brigands in Guindulungan town, Maguindanao
before noon Sunday.
"I am confirming the death of Basit Usman, the
terrorist-bomber who is responsible for the countless deaths of civilians in a
series of bombings in Mindanao," Catapang
added.
Based on reports reaching AFP headquarters in Camp
Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Usman and five of his unidentified cohorts were killed
in a shootout allegedly with fellow members of his group in Sitio Takeneken,
Barangay Muti, Guindulungan, Maguindanao 10 a.m. Sunday.
"The encounter site is near the vicinity of CampAfghan,
a temporary relocation site for MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) members
who voluntarily vacated their homes during the conduct of law enforcement
operations against the BIFF (Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters) in the last
week of February 2015," Catapang disclosed.
MILF members who are temporarily staying at the camp rushed
to the scene and discovered the dead bodies along with the recoveries including
an M-60 general purpose machine gun, one RPG and a 5.56mm Bushmaster rifle.
Sources in the ground believe that there was infighting
among Usman's followers fueled by the tussle for the huge monetary reward that
was put on his head amounting to almost USD1 million.
"The AFP is validating the reports that Usman became
distrustful of some of his own men after the series of encounters between the
AFP and his group in the past two months," Catapang said.
Photos of Usman's dead body will be taken to show proof
about his death, he added.
"The AFP and PNP (Philippine National Police) forces
had been pursuing the small band of terrorists led by Basit Usman who
continuously eluded the government troops for more than two months since the
launching of the 'all out law enforcement operations' against the BIFF in
Maguindanao," he said.
On May 2-3, the government forces maintained its security
patrols, sensing that Usman and his group were just nearby.
Usman's group occasionally goes near to MILF communities in
an effort to divert their pursuers.
"A final version of the military report will be
released to the public once the After Operations Report related to this
incident will be submitted by our line units," according to Catapang.
"I want to convey my warm congratulations to the MILF
and the government forces (both the AFP and PNP) who worked together in
neutralizing this notorious terrorist," he added.
Catapang also said that it is very important to note that
aside from helping the government in neutralizing Usman, the MILF provided
valuable information that led to the arrest of prominent BIFF leaders such as
Mohammad Ali Tambako and Esmael Pagao.
"Through the MILF's cooperation and support, we have
also succeeded in uprooting the bomb factories and terrorist hideouts near
their communities," he said.
The recent accomplishment shows the MILF's sincerity in
supporting the peace process by actively helping the government in flushing out
the terrorists from their former safe havens.
It can be recalled that the MILF relocated from their
communities inside "SPMS Box" since the last week of February 2015 in
order to give way to the joint law enforcement operations of the AFP/PNP
against the BIFF and Usman's group.
From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): Peace more attainable in Central Mindanao with Usman's death, says Catapang
With the neutralization of Basit Usman and five of his
followers in Guindulungan town, Maguindanao Sunday, Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang said that peace
will be more attainable in Central Mindanao.
Usman and his followers were reportedly gunned down by his
fellow terrorists due to differences.
He also said that more work needs to be done to make this a
reality.
"(To win the peace), we will have to win progress and
prosperity for the people of Mindanao, so now we are bringing in peace and
developments, put up roads for peace, put up bridges for peace, hospital and
school buildings for peace," Catapang said.
This is on top of neutralizing the peace spoilers and
terrorists known to be operating in the area.
Catapang also downplays fear of possible retaliatory attacks
from Usman's remaining followers, as the late terrorist has now run of
followers and bodyguards.
He also said that the military will remain in the area to
ensure the peace.
"We will stay in the area, as this the second phase of
our Internal Peace and Security Peace 'Bayanihan' campaign, right after we win
the peace, we will move forward for peace and development projects, we will
stay there, in time for (the) projects to come in," he said.
From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): AFP supportive of peace overtures being made by CPP-NPA-NDF
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen.
Gregorio Pio Catapang on Monday said that the entire military is supportive of
the peace overtures being made by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New
People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
This is despite the fact that the AFP's
"Bayanihan" strategy is working well against the rebels as attested
by the increasing number of NPA surrenderees in the past few months.
The latter strategy seeks to defeat NPA influence by
bringing in development to the countryside.
"We are supporting the continuance of the peace talks
with the CPP-NPA-NDF," Catapang said.
In fact, the AFP is willing to talk peace provided that the
rebels don't make any demands.
"There are a lot of surrenderees, we are declaring one
after another almost all the provinces of the country as peaceful and ready for
further development, I think the country is now claiming the peace, so
hopefully the CPP-NDF-NPA will join hands in claiming the peace for our
country," the AFP chief pointed out.
At present, there are less than 20 provinces with known NPA
presence.
These are mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao,
Catapang said.
From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): Death of Usman will bring back trust to MILF -- Drilon
Senate President Franklin Drilon on Monday said the death of
long-wanted suspected terrorist Basit Usman will definitely bring back the
trust of the people to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
”Assuming it's true, if Usman is really dead, this will
certainly help in bringing back the trust,” Drilon said in a media interview.
Usman, an expert bomb maker, was reportedly shot dead by
MILF commander "Barok" of the 118th Base Command last Sunday in Maguindanao.
Usman was commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters (BIFF) which is a breakaway group of the MILF. He has publicly
expressed his opposition to the peace talks between the Philippine government
and the MILF.
The BIFF commander was one of the two targets of the Oplan
Exodus carried out by the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National
Police (PNP) to neutralize Usman and Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir
alias "Marwan" last January 25 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Marwan, an international terrorist with US$ 5 million bounty
on his head, was killed but Usman, who was wounded, was able to escape in the
bloody operation that left 44 SAF members dead after an almost 11-hour
firefight between the combined forces of the MILF and BIFF and the PNP-SAF
troopers.
The Mamasapano incident has delayed the Bangsamoro Basic Law
(BBL) hearings both in the Senate and the House of Representatives to give way
the series of investigations on the incident.
The bloody encounter prompted some lawmakers to withdraw
their support on the passage of the BBL, some of them accusing the MILF of
protecting Marwan.
Drilon said the BBL, a piece of legislation that will
provide for the creation of the Bangsamoro political entity in Mindanao, is
still the top priority agenda of the Senate in the six remaining weeks of the
second regular session of the 16th Congress.
”That (BBL) is on top of our priority agenda once it (BBL
committee report) is submitted at the plenary,” Drilon said.
The Senate president earlier said the target to pass the BBL
is before the sine die adjournment on June 11.
The BBL was the result of the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the government and MILF in March last year.
From the Philippine News Agency (May 4): Marwan's son escaped special operations that neutralized Usman, five followers
Only the 15-year-old-son of Zulkipli bin Hir alias
"Marwan," the Malaysian bomb-maker killed during the Mamasapano,
Maguindanao incident last Jan. 25, survived the special operation that
neutralized Filipino terror leader Basit Usman and his five followers in
Guindulungan town before noon Sunday.
This was stressed by a government source who also claimed
that Usman and his men were gunned down by "assets" while waiting for
the radio broadcast of the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout last May 3.
He added that the "assets" were embedded in
Usman's group.
The source further said that these operatives were
responsible for giving security forces exact location and disposition of the
bandit leader's group.
With this information, government troops were able to foil
and attack Usman's group, causing casualties to the latter.
The source also stressed that the "assets"
literally decided to jump the gun on Usman and his followers after seeing the
latter slumped down, listening to the radio, waiting for the Mayweather-Pacquiao
bout at 10 a.m. Sunday.
"All of them, Usman and his five followers, were killed
on the spot when our 'assets' decided to fire on them," he stressed.
Of Usman's group, only Marwan's 15-year old son managed to
escape despite being wounded.
After making their kill, the "assets" then fled
into a government safe house as nearby Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)
fighters arrived at the scene and fired indiscriminately, in a bid to scare
would-be attackers or ambushers.
"The 'assets' will definitely (be) given the US$
1-million (placed by the US State Department) and the Php6.3 million placed on
Usman's head," the source said.
