AN Abu Sayyaf bomb maker was killed in a firefight with security forces in Barangay Mohammad Ajul town in Basilan on Saturday morning, PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar reported yesterday.
Eleazar said the suspect, Aroy Ittot, alias Oroy, was a trusted bomb maker of Abu Sayyaf leader Furuji Indama, who died in an encounter with Army soldiers in RT Lim town in Zamboanga Sibugay province in September last year.
Joint forces from the PNP and AFP swooped down at the residence of Ittor in Barangay Languyan at around 2:30 a.m. to serve an arrest warrant, issued by Isabela City Judge Leo Jay Principe, for murder.
“During the service of warrant of arrest, the suspect fired upon the arresting team using his M16 rifle which prompted the operating troops to return fire that eventually led in the neutralization of Oroy,” Eleazar said.
Recovered at the scene were an M16 rifle, an M14 rifle, nine magazines for M16 and M14, seven grenade launchers, and 1.5 liters of ammonium nitrate with fuel oil, among others.
