Joint police and military operatives killed a suspected leader of a local extremist group working for the international terror group Dawlah Islamiyah in a raid in Marawi City on Monday, April 12.
Gen. Debold Sinas, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the operation, which led to an intense 30-minute gun battle, also resulted in the wounding of seven policemen and an officer of the Philippine Army.
Sinas said the police and the military raided a house in Barangay Guimba at around 3 a.m. after they were tipped of the presence of Usop Nasif.
Nasif, who carries the alias Abu Asraf, is listed as the number two man of Abu Zacaria, a principal player in the operation of Dawlah Islamiyah network in the Philippines. He was facing cases of frustrated murder and murder.
Sinas said that when the police went to the area, they were engaged by Nasif and several other armed men.
Nasif and his wife identified as Khalil Mufliha were discovered injured after the encounter and were immediately taken to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center. Nasif, however, was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
The rest of the armed suspects were able to escape, according to Sinas.
Seized in the encounter site were 130 pcs of 5.56 empty shells, 12 pcs of 9mm empty shells, a motorcycle, a handgun, a pressure IED attached with battery clip, two hand grenades and several IED components.