A member of a Kidnap for Ransom Group (KFRG) and spotter of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) was killed during a joint law enforcement operation launched by the military, police, and coast guard in Tawi-Tawi over the weekend.
Army Captain Jo-Ann D. Petinglay, Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) spokesperson, said KFRG member Al Abdullah was killed in a fire fight with government forces who were conducting maritime security patrol off the waters of Bakungan, Turtle Island in Tawi-Tawi on Sunday afternoon.
Petinglay said reports from the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi disclosed that the troops were acting upon reports on the presence of an armed KFRG members in the area and invited Abdullah for questioning.
Upon verification, Abdullah admitted that he is the owner of the house where the armed men stayed and was among the same group sighted at the said place.
At 5 p.m. of the same day, Abdullah asked permission to go home and was allowed by the government troops. However, he returned armed with an M16 rifle and fired towards the operating troops. A fire fight then ensued that resulted to the death of Abdulla. (Francis T. Wakefield)