A top leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed in a raid by joint police and military personnel in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte early morning on Sunday, July 5.
Esmael Abubakar, alias Kumander Bungos, was listed as the number one most wanted in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with a P3 million bounty and the Philippine National Police (PNP) expressed confidence that his will have significant effects in the efforts to bring peace and development in the region.
“All our kababayan in this area have suffered enough hardships as a result of armed conflict over years. It is our obligation in the PNP to sustain the gains of what have been so far achieved in terms of finally bringing genuine peace and development to our brothers and sisters in BARMM,” said PGEN Nartatez.
Police and military operatives swooped down on Abubakar’s lair in in Sitio Tambak, Barangay Calsada in the municipality of Sultan Kudarat at around 1:10 a.m.
Instead of yielding, Abubakar allegedly grabbed a pistol and fired towards the tactical team which was then asking him to peacefully surrender.
Recovered in the crime scene was one caliber 45 with defaced serial number, and chamber loaded.
Abubakar was taken to a hospital in Maguindanao del Norte where he died. While the persons who were with him during the operation were taken to the police station for investigation.
Abubakar, Chairman of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters–Bungos Faction (BIFF-BF), is facing multiple arrest warrants that include two counts of murder and multiple frustrated murder; Qualified Direct Assaults with Multiple Attempted Murder; Murder with Multiple Frustrated Murder; and, Destructive Arson.
He was listed as Top 1 Most Wanted Person at the Regional Level in BARMM, and Top 1 Most Wanted Person at the Provincial Level in Maguindanao del Sur, and carries a P3 million reward.
Abubakar was a former Vice Chairman for Political Affairs of the BIFF and later took over the leadership of the group after the death of Ameril Umbra Kato.
Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, commander of the Westmincom, said Abubakar’s death dealt a major blow to armed groups operating in Western Mindanao.
“This successful operation reflects the unwavering commitment of our security forces to uphold the rule of law and protect our communities from individuals who continue to resort to violence,” Gumiran said.
In recent months, government forces have also killed several high-value leaders of local terrorist groups and the communist insurgency.
Among them were Emarudin Kulaw, also known as “Alpha King,” leader of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group; Amerol Mangoranca, also known as “Usman,” leader of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group; and Anthony Narvasa, also known as “Magaw,” secretary of the communist group's Far South Mindanao Regional Committee.
Gumiran said those operations have weakened the leadership and operational capability of the armed groups operating in the region, especially with the upcoming inaugural parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in September.
The BIFF was founded by Kato as a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The group had been opposing any peace agreement with the government and engaged in various terror attacks in the central part of Mindanao.
The recent attack carried out by the group was the ambush of PNP personnel in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur, on March 28.
Nartatez recognized the efforts and hard work of the intelligence units and the operating teams that conducted the operation.
“This operation did not only bring justice to all the victims of the senseless attacks of his group, this also gives another ray of hope for all our kababayan in BARMM to finally put an end to violence in their communities and enjoy a lasting peace and development that they fully deserve,” said Nartatez.
“We assure the public that your PNP will continue to work hard to make every community in the country a better and safe place for everybody, especially for the children,” he added.
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