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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP Chief: 1 dead, 9 hurt in law enforcement op vs ex-Sulu vice mayor Mudjasan

AFP Chief: 1 dead, 9 hurt in law enforcement op vs ex-Sulu vice mayor Mudjasan

Published Jun 25, 2023 03:46 am
The firefight that erupted during the service of search and arrest warrants by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against former Maimbung, Sulu Vice Mayor Pando Mudjasan left one police officer dead and nine other troops wounded, AFP Chief Gen. Andres Centino revealed Sunday, June 25.

*Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff (File photo)

* Centino said the cop died due to gunshot wounds but the identity of the slain officer was withheld pending notification of the next of kin. Meanwhile, of the nine wounded troops, eight are police officers while one is a soldier. “All of the wounded from the PNP side, the total is eight [officers]. There’s also one [cop] who passed away yesterday. There’s also a soldier from the 41st Infantry Battalion who sustained slight wounds. During the gunbattle, there was a grenade lobbed to our troops. Our soldier was hit by shrapnel but he’s already safe and stable,” Centino said in a radio interview with DWIZ. Two of the injured cops were seriously wounded as a result of the firefight. Centino said they were extracted from the battle area in Maimbung and airlifted to a hospital in Zamboanga City aboard the military’s Black Hawk helicopter. The AFP and PNP were also coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to track down Mudjasan, who evaded the arresting officers. “He could probably still be in the area in Maimbung, Sulu,” Centino stated. “Our efforts are continuous to find [Mudjasan] and we are coordinating with the PNP. The local police probably have the better perspective in tracking him down. We believe he’s just in the area.” He said the PNP, which led the conduct of the law enforcement operation, already anticipated that there would be some form of resistance from Mudjasan when they served the warrants. “There was a sufficient number of law enforcers and that’s why the [PNP] deployed that big of a force. Unfortunately, there was really a resistance from the group of Mudjasan when they were attempting to enter where the warrants were served,” Centino shared. The PNP fielded combined units from the Special Action Force (SAF) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) while the AFP supported them by sending personnel from the 41st Infantry Battalion. The combined units served two search warrants and three arrest warrants against Mudjasan in Brgy. Bualo Lipid, Maimbung, Sulu around 7:30 a.m. Saturday, June 24. The search warrants were for Mudjasan’s alleged violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and RA 9516 for illegal possession of explosives; while the three warrants of arrest were for frustrated murder, double murder, and multiple murder. Centino also confirmed that they have received intelligence reports identifying Mudjasan as a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF): “As far as the information provided to us, he’s really a former MNLF commander.” Meanwhile, the AFP chief pointed out that the security situation in Maimbung has been contained as the firefight already stopped late Saturday afternoon. Civilians who were affected by the firefight and evacuated were also assured by Centino that the armed forces and local government units will assist them in returning to their homes. “Probably some of them heard the gunshots and they fled their homes due to fear. We’re making sure that whenever they evacuate, their needs are being attended to,” the AFP Chief said.

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