MILITARY and police operatives killed a bomb expert of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters after he resisted arrest in Maguindanao Tuesday night, an official said Wednesday.
Ebrahim Ali alias Ebs, 49, was slain after he resisted arrest and attempted to fire his gun at the authorities who came after him to serve an arrest warrant, said Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
He made his statement even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines vowed to neutralize the remaining Maute group terrorists who are in a one-square-kilometer area in Marawi City.
“We are firm in ending this rebellion in Marawi, and we are going to exert all efforts within the limits and bounds of the law to get the remnants of the Daesh [ISIS]-inspired Maute Group,” military spokesman Edgard Arevalo told reporters on Tuesday.
A Catholic bishop on Wednesday deplored the alleged plan of the Maute group to use civilian hostages as suicide bombers against security forces.
Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña said the “desperate” plan of the terrorists deservd strong condemnation.
“Horrible! Repulsive! These terrorists are really desperate, and that’s why they are doing this,” De la Peña said.
“What they are doing is abhorrent and they are hoping that the government will listen to them.”
Encinas said Ali, who was operating under Muhaiden Animbang alias commander Kagi Karialan, was to be arrested by the Army’s 603rd Brigade and police from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group when he challenged the authorities.
“The subject pulled out his gun from his sling bag when he was about to be arrested, prompting the arresting team to shoot him,” Encinas said.
He said Ali drew his gun after sensing the presence of security forces in his lair in Awang village in Datu Odin Sinsuat town around 7:15 p.m.
Reports said Ali was among the more than 300 people included in two arrest orders issued by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in connection with the implementation of martial law in Mindanao.
Ali had reportedly trained many BIFF members in Maguindanao in bomb making.
The BIFF has suffered a series of setbacks in Maguindanao during the massive military operations there. With PNA and Vito Barcelo