Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

High-value terrorist ‘likely’ killed during encounter with police in Maguindanao, says Palace

Posted on January 26, 2015

MANILA, Jan. 26 (PNA) — A high-value suspected terrorist linked to Jemaah Islamiyah was “likely” killed during Sunday’s law enforcement operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, a Palace official has said.

“On Sunday, 25 January 2015, the PNP Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) conducted a law enforcement operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to arrest a high-value suspected terrorist, Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, who was allegedly a member of the Markaziyah, Jemaah Islamiyah’s central command,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday.

“The PNP-SAF performed this mission with courage and professionalism. Based on latest reports, there is a high likelihood that the primary target, Marwan, has been neutralized,” Coloma added.

He said President Benigno S. Aquino III has instructed Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to leave for Cotabato to supervise the ongoing operation, along with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.

Coloma further said that according to the AFP, a ceasefire was enforced starting 5 p.m. on Sunday.

“By 7 p.m. last night, the AFP had initiated retrieval operations in coordination with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), the international monitoring team and the Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities. Retrieval operations are still ongoing,” he said.

Coloma noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has been mobilized to give assistance to at least 200 families affected by the ongoing operation in Maguindanao.

In a separate press briefing, the PNP confirmed that some 43 members of the SAF died and 11 were injured during the encounter with members of the MILF.

The police were in the area to arrest Malaysian terror suspect, Marwan, and Filipino bomb-making expert, Abdul Bassit Usman, who have been blamed for terror attacks in Mindanao.

In the same briefing, Secretary Roxas said they would only confirm Marwan’s death once the DNA results are released.

Media reports have quoted Secretary Gazmin as saying that Bassir Usman had escaped during Sunday’s operation. (PNA)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme