ZAMBOANGA CITY – A former member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), who has shifted his illegal activities to dealing in illegal drugs, was shot dead by police and military authorities in a buy-bust operation in Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi on Thursday, January 21.
Armed Force of the Philippines- Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan, Jr. identified on Friday, January 22, the former ASG member as Riyadzkan Maulana, alias Tamyang.
He was killed after he reportedly resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation conducted by soldiers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team and the Sapa-Sapa Municipal Police Station in Barangay Poblacion, Sapa-Sapa at around 11 a.m. on Thursday.
“The subject sustained one gunshot wound on his head and two on his chest which caused his instantaneous death,” Vinluan said.
“Based on the report from the ground, Maulana was a former member of the ASG’s kidnap for ransom group (KFRG) under Salip Murah Asgali and Majan Sahijuan, alias Apo Mike,” Vinluan said..
Recovered at the scene were a hand grenade, one lighter, one motorized boat (jungkung type), seven heat-sealed plastics containing shabu, six aluminum foils, one improvised totter (water pipe type), and a P500-marked money.
He already surrendered to Sapa-Sapa MPS last February 20, 2019, but continued with his illegal drug trade, Vinluan added.
Military records showed that Maulana was also one of the coddlers of the ASG/KFRG who transited on the island of Tawi-Tawi and supported the ASG on the kidnapping incident in Tambisan Island, Lahad Datu, Sabah on Jan. 16, 2020
He escaped during the focused military operation conducted by the military which resulted in the death of four ASG members and the recovery of several firearms and ammunition on January 19, 2020.
After the incident, Maulana surrendered on April 2020. However, he continued his lawless activities including drug pushing, indiscriminate firing, and intimidating the barangay chairperson of Lakit-Lakit, Sapa-Sapa.