Man with links to ASG in Bohol killed in police opn in Sarangani
Local News • 00:29 AM Sat May 6, 2017
1,364
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
ASG undergoing training in one of the hinterlands of Mindanao. (contributed photo)
KORONADAL CITY – A suspected member of terrorist group allied with the Abu Sayyaf was
killed during law enforcement operations in Kiamba, Sarangani province
Wednesday, police said today.
Supt. Romeo
Galgo Jr, speaking for Police in Region 12, said Jukarno Espadilla was killed
when he tried to lob a hand grenade during serving of search warrants in his
home in Barangay Badtasan, Kiamba, Srangani at 3:30 a.m.
Recovered from
him was his mobile phone that contained exchanges of text messages to a certain
Ali, an Abu Sayyaf member killed in Bohol province last week, and to Mohammad
Jaafar Maguid, aka Commander Tokboy.
Tokboy was
the founding head of Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines (AKP), a Sarangani-based terror
group allied with Abu Sayyaf and Islamic State of Iraq and Iran (ISIS). Joselito Melloria alias Ali, a Boholano member of Abu Sayaff Group, was killed during military operations in Inabanga, Bohol two weeks ago.Melloria served as guide of ASG members in coming to Bohol on a kidnapping mission during the Holy Week.He was killed
during police operation on January 5 at Angel Beach Resort in Barangay Kitagas,
Kiamba.
Galgo said
joint police units were to serve warrants against Espadilla and Basir Sahak in
Espadilla’s home in Sitio Pag-asa, Barangay Badtasan, Kiamba at 3:30 a.m.
Wednesday.
Sahak eluded
arrest, leaving Espadilla in his home.
He
(Espadilla) resisted by trying to throw a hand grenade toward police personnel,
Galgo told and//www.ndbcnews.com.ph www.ndbcnews.com.ph . That act prompted the police to open fire on
him, injuring him seriously, he added.
Government
forces rushed him to Kiamba district hospital but he was pronounced dead on
arrival by attending physicians.
Galgo said the
operating units recovered a hand grenade, six sachets of suspected shabu,
ammonium nitrate contained in a plastic sealed container, seven mobile phones,
a bullet for 12 gauge shotgun and a motorbike without legitimate registration
papers.
Galgo added
local officials witnessed the accounting of seized items from slain Espadilla’s
home.
He refused to
reveal what the text message exchanges between Espadilla and a certain Ali who
was among the Abu Sayyaf members from Sulu that entered Inabanga, Bohol and
eventually neutralized by government forces. (Edwin O. Fernandez)