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Usman wounded, likely in Mamasapano — governor
(Updated 10:56 a.m.) Another wanted bomber targeted by Philippine authorities is wounded and is likely still hiding in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao, provincial governor Esmael Mangudadatu said Friday.
In an interview on dzBB radio, Mangudadatu said Basit Usman is wounded in the shoulder and may be moving around the town.
"May tama sa bandang balikat si Basit Usman. Nariyan siya sa lugar," he told dzBB's Arnold Clavio and Ali Sotto, citing information reaching him.
Basit Usman: The big fish who always slips through the net
But he said he is not discounting the possibility Usman could get to nearby towns in Maguindanao.
In a separate text message, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla meanwhile said he does not have any information similar to those given by Mangudadatu as of posting time.
Usman, with $1-million bounty on his head, is one of the targets in a Jan. 25 operation in Barangay Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano town that left 44 PNP-Special Action Force troopers dead.
Reports at the Senate probe on Thursday indicated that Usman's house was roughly a hundred meters away from slain international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.
Killed in the Jan. 25 operation was suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir a.k.a. Marwan, the other target in the operation.
In an interview on dzBB radio, Mangudadatu said Basit Usman is wounded in the shoulder and may be moving around the town.
"May tama sa bandang balikat si Basit Usman. Nariyan siya sa lugar," he told dzBB's Arnold Clavio and Ali Sotto, citing information reaching him.
Security forces are currently hunting down alleged Filipino bomb-maker Akmad Batabol Usman alias Abdul Basit Usman, who escaped during the Mamasapano operation which left 44 police commandos dead.
According to Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, Usman was reportedly wounded after the Jan. 25 police operation, but still managed to evade arrest and continues to be in hiding in Mamasapano town.
This was not the first time that Usman, who is said to have ties with the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, escaped the long arm of the law.
In 2002, Usman was arrested for allegedly bombing an area near Fitmart Mall in General Santos City, where 15 people were killed. [Read more]
According to Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, Usman was reportedly wounded after the Jan. 25 police operation, but still managed to evade arrest and continues to be in hiding in Mamasapano town.
This was not the first time that Usman, who is said to have ties with the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf and the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah, escaped the long arm of the law.
In 2002, Usman was arrested for allegedly bombing an area near Fitmart Mall in General Santos City, where 15 people were killed. [Read more]
But he said he is not discounting the possibility Usman could get to nearby towns in Maguindanao.
In a separate text message, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla meanwhile said he does not have any information similar to those given by Mangudadatu as of posting time.
Usman, with $1-million bounty on his head, is one of the targets in a Jan. 25 operation in Barangay Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano town that left 44 PNP-Special Action Force troopers dead.
Reports at the Senate probe on Thursday indicated that Usman's house was roughly a hundred meters away from slain international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.
Killed in the Jan. 25 operation was suspected Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir a.k.a. Marwan, the other target in the operation.
Mangudadatu said his information indicated Usman may have suffered a mild stroke, and he may have difficulty moving around.
Also, he said Usman may have five to 10 personnel securing him.
"Naroon sila, nagtatago sa may Mamasapano... palipat-lipat sila," he said.
On the other hand, Mangudadatu said he could not say if armed groups are coddling him. — Joel Locsin/LBG/RSJ, GMA News
Tags: mamasapanoclash, basitusman
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