By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines
The second man Philippines police were seeking during a disastrous operation in the Muslim south that left 44 commandos dead was killed Sunday morning, according to a police official.
Maguindanao police director Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan told reporters that the country’s most wanted man, Abdul Basit Usman, died in a 20-minute firefight with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters.
The incident happened in the village of Muti, Guindulungan town around 11:50 a.m. (0450GMT) while the country was engrossed in the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather boxing match, he added.
On Jan. 25, around 400 commandos descended on Mamasapano township, Maguindanao province, in the south in search of two of Southeast Asia’s top terror suspects, only to run into members of the MILF and splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters BIFF.
In the ensuing gunfight, Malaysian bomb-maker Zulkifli bin Hir - alias Marwan - was killed along with the 44 commandos, at least 17 MILF members and five civilians.
Usman - who has been linked to Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf - escaped.
Muksan said that Muti village chief Gayak Midtimbang and Guindulungan Mayor Antao Midtimbang had confirmed Sunday's death.
"We are against extremism, we do not welcome Basit Usman to our town," Mayor Midtimbang told reporters.
Toks Upam, the liaison officer of the coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities of the MILF, also confirmed Usman's death.
Mohaqher Iqbal - the MILF's chief negotiator in its ongoing peace deal with the governement - told the state-run Philippines News Agency Sunday that Usman exchanged fire with MILF fighters, triggering a gun battle.
He said the group’s forces in the area were not aware that Usman was accompanied by a group of armed men. When accosted, Usman's group fired shots.
Authorities had named Usman as the brains behind a spate of bombings in General Santos City, Davao, North Cotabato and Cotabato.
Army spokesperson Capt. Joann Petinglay would not confirm the death, but said the army had been placed on heightened alert to thwart any attempt by followers to launch terror attacks to avenge his suspected death.
A spokesman for the group which had claimed to be sheltering both Marwan and Usman refused to confirm nor deny the report.
Abu Misry Mama told the news agency that he was busy watching the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight when he heard the news.
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