COTABATO CITY – A member of the Intelligence Division of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters’ (BIFF) Karialan faction who was said to be a student of bomb-making expert Abdul Basit Usman was killed by authorities early Monday, May 22.
Murad Ali alyas Abu Mohamad was gunned down at 2 a.m. in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao thru Oplan Paglalansag Omega by joint forces from the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Maguindanao Provincial Police, and the Philippine Army.
CIDG-ARMM deputy chief William Santos authorities were supposed to serve an arrest warrant on Murad, who was accused of violating Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and R.A. 9516 or the Act Amending Presidential Decree 1866 pertaining to unlawful manufacture, possession, and use of firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
But Santos said Murad had refused to cooperate with authorities and instead fought with them, forcing operatives to shoot at him.
Recovered from the house of Murad were an Ingram machine pistol, a grenade, a mortar, and ingredients in making explosive devices.
