Alleged Daulah Islamiya leader behind Cotabato bus bombing killed in manhunt op —military

An alleged leader of Daulah Islamiyah (DI) who is also a suspect in the recent bombing of a passenger bus in Cotabato, was killed in a manhunt operation on Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People aired on Tuesday, AFP chief General Andres Centino identified the suspect as Norodin Hassan.

“We also would like to report Norodin Hassan, he's the head of the DI Hassan Group, responsible for the bus bombing in Aleosan, Cotabato, was also neutralized four days after the incident,” he said.

On January 11, an explosion occurred inside a bus of Mindanao Star with route from Davao to Cotabato City.

Five-year-old Benjamin Solaiman, who was initially injured, died on the same day in the hospital. Six others were also injured in the explosion.

In a statement on Monday, the Western Mindanao Command said Hassan and his three cohorts were killed in a police-military operation in Barangay Tonganon, Carmen, North Cotabato on Saturday.

According to the military, Nordin Hassan alias Andot was the “planner and perpetrator” of the bombing in Aleosan.

Through intelligence reports and information from the civilians, the military said it tracked down the alleged perpetrators.

Colonel Jovencio Gonzales, commander of 602nd Infantry Brigade, identified the two other slain suspects as Abdonillah Hassan alias Don and Abdonhack Hassan alias Abdon. The third one has yet to be identified, the military said.

6th Infantry Division commander Major General Juvymax Uy said, “The deaths of alias Andot and 3 of his cohorts only show that justice is given to the victims of the Mindanao Star Bus bombing.”

Seized from the suspects were a 7.62mm M14 rifle, a caliber 30 M1 Garand rifle, several rounds of ammunition and magazines of different calibers, analog cellphones, solar panels, ICOM radios, and other subversive documents with high intelligence value.

Since the last quarter of 2021, the military said the Joint Task Central neutralized high-ranking Daulah Islamiyah personalities like Salahuddin Hassan, Emir of DI – Philippines; alias Adsam, sub-leader of DI; and Asim Karinda alias Abu Azim, newly appointed Emir of DI. —KBK, GMA News