ZAMBOANGA CITY – A former member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) who turned illegal drug dealer was shot dead by police and military authorities in a buy-bust operation in Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi on Thursday.
Armed Force of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr. identified the former ASG member as Riyadzkan Maulana, alias “Tamyang”.
He was killed after he reportedly resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation conducted by troopers of the Marine Battalion Landing Team and operatives of the Sapa-Sapa Municipal Police Station (MPS) in Barangay Poblacion around 11 a.m.
“The subject sustained one gunshot wound on his head and two in his chest which caused his instantaneous death,” Vinluan said.
“Based on the report from the ground, Maulana was a former member of the ASG’s kidnap-for-ransom group (KFRG) under Salip Murah Asgali and Majan Sahijuan, alias Apo Mike,” Vinluan said.
Recovered at the scene were a hand grenade, one lighter, one motorized boat (jungkung type), seven heat-sealed plastics containing shabu, drug paraphernalia, and P500 marked money.
He already surrendered to Sapa-Sapa MPS on February 20, 2019 but continued with his illegal drug trade, Vinluan added.
Military records showed that Maulana was also one of the coddlers of the ASG/KFRG who transited on the island of Tawi-Tawi and supported the ASG in the kidnapping incident in Tambisan Island, Lahad Datu, Sabah, on Jan. 16, 2020.
He escaped during a military operation which resulted in the death of four ASG members and the recovery of several firearms and ammunition on Jan. 19, 2020.
After the incident, Maulana surrendered on April 2020. However, he continued his lawless activities including drug pushing, indiscriminate firing, and intimidating the barangay chairperson of Lakit-Lakit, Sapa-Sapa. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
