A FIELD commander of the terrorist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and his cohort were killed in a firefight with government troops in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat last Saturday.
The BIFF leader, Abdulkarim Kasim, alias Boy Jacket, was involved in a string of crimes, including the ambush-slaying of Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur police chief Lt. Reynaldo Samson and one of his men, Cpl. Salipudin Endab.
The August 2021 ambush in Barangay Kapinpilan in Ampatuan town also resulted in the wounding of two other cops.
Authorities said Kasim and his cohort, Mahmod Lumbatan, were killed during a law enforcement operation conducted by the military and the police in Barangay New Isabela in Tacurong City at around 6:30 a.m. last Saturday.
Policemen and soldiers tried to serve an arrest warrant against Kasim for murder and frustrated murder but he and his cohort resisted arrest, leading to a firefight that led to their death, police said.
Seized from the possession of the suspects were a motorcycle, a Taurus cal. 45 pistol with live ammunition, a cellular phone, and a keypad.
“Hasim was the field commander of the BIFF-KF (BIFF-Karialan Faction) and a notorious criminal in the area,” said Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
The military said Kasim figured in several other attacks against military targets, including the harassment of an Army detachment in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao del Sur in October last year that led to the death of an Army soldier.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th ID commander, said the killing of Kasim and his cohort dealt a significant blow to the BIFF. He said this also brought justice to the many victims of Kasim.
Rillera also urged the remaining BIFF members to surrender even as vowed that government troops will continue their unrelenting operation against the group.
“Your Army, in collaboration with other government forces, will continue to pursue those accountable for the heinous acts in the area. Rest assured that we shall sustain military operations to finally finish the remaining terrorists in south and south-central Mindanao” said Rillera.
PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said the killing of Kasim “is a significant achievement for the PNP and the AFP in the fight against criminality and terrorism.
“This also serves as a warning to all those who perpetrate violence against law enforcement authorities that they will be held accountable for their actions,” Azurin said.
