Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday, October 30, lauded the Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division for its successful operations that subdued and killed the leader of the terrorist group, Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group.
Salahuddin Hassan, slain leader of the Daulah Islamiyah, was responsible for the attacks in the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat.
The Vice President was all praises for the “determination” of the army officers.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa giting ng kasundaluhan, na sinigurong mananagot si Hassan (We are thankful for the heroism of the soldiers, who made sure that Hassan will be brought to justice),” she said in a statement.
“Kaisa ako ng sambayanang Pilipino sa pagbibigay-pugay sa isang marangal at propesyunal na kasundaluhan (I am one with the Filipino people in giving praise to an honorable and professional army),” Robredo added.
Hassan and his wife, Jehana Minbida, who served as the financial officer of the group, were killed during the special operations in Sitio Pinareng, Barangay Damablac, Talayan, Maguindanao on Friday, Oct. 29.
READ: Top Daulah Islamiyah terrorist slain by Army in Maguindanao
The Philippine Army said that the bodies were recovered on the same day.
The groups first tried to escape in Sitio Pinareng by engaging the troops in battle. Hassan, however, was severely wounded and his group left him and his wife in the area.
Known also as Abu Salman of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Hassan has a P1.3-million bounty on his head. Intelligence experts said he was a protege of Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, a notorious bomb-maker within the terrorist groups operating in the southern Philippines.