2 terrorists killed in Maguindanao

MATANOG, Maguindanao, Philippines — Two members of a local terrorist group were killed in an alleged shootout with law enforcers in Barangay Bugasan in this town on Thursday.

The fatalities were identified as Norodin Guiamad and Puti Sumanday of the Dawlah Islamiya.

Personnel of the Matanog police and 5th Marine Battalion were serving arrest warrants for multiple murder and frustrated murder when the suspects reportedly opened fire.

Police said an M16 assault rifle and a .45-caliber pistol were recovered from the slain suspects.

Meanwhile, in Sulu, Abu Sayyaf sub-leaders Almujer Yadah, 55, and Ben Ahadi Quirino, 41, surrendered in Patikul, Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, Joint Task Force Sulu and 11th Division commander, said.

Patrimonio said Yadah and Quirino were with the group of sub-leader Majid Sahidjuan, who headed the kidnapping group of the Abu Sayyaf.

Col. Jaime Mojica, Sulu police officer-in-charge, said the arrest warrants indicate the involvement of the two bandits in the beheading of two kidnapped Canadian citizens.

John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, who were among three foreigners taken  from a resort on Samal island on Sept. 21, 2015, were beheaded in April and June in 2016, respectively, after failing to pay a ransom of P300 million.

Col. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, civil-military operations chief of Joint Task Force Sulu, said Yadah was also responsible for the beheading of two soldiers of the 41st Infantry Battalion following an encounter in Barangay Liang on Nov. 18, 2018. – Roel Pareño