2 jail escapees in Basilan killed in clash with troops — WestMinCom

Two fugitives were killed during an armed confrontation on Sunday in Isabela City, Basilan, the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) said Monday.

WestMinCom chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said troops from the 4th Special Forces Battalion were conducting a pursuit operation in Barangay Cabunbata to apprehend those who escaped from jail last October 13 when the two fugitives started the gun battle, prompting soldiers to retaliate.

Vinluan said the fugitives sustained gunshot wounds, which resulted in their deaths. The firefight lasted for five minutes, the military said.

They were identified as one Nurhassan Lahaman, a former member of a local terrorist group who was jailed for a case of murder; and a certain Battuh Kusain Murag, who was supposedly involved in the Lamitan City blast in July 2018.

Vinluan said no casualty was reported from the government side.

Authorities were able to seize one M653 rifle with a short magazine and 17 ammunition and a caliber .45 pistol with a magazine and seven ammunition in the area.

Vinluan said the military continues the hot pursuit operation for the remaining escapees. One escapee, named as Mahad Hassan, was arrested last October 14 in Barangay Calvario.

"We cannot deny the fact that they are familiar of the terrain, but we are maximizing our efforts to expedite the arrest of the remaining fugitives the soonest possible,” Vinluan said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News