ZAMBOANGA CITY – A police officer allegedly supporting the Dawla Islamya-Abu Sayyaf Group (DI-ASG) was killed when he shot it out with government authorities in Barangay Mampang in this city on Wednesday morning.
Zamboanga Peninsula Police (PRO-9) director Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro E. Ylagan identified the fatality as Police Staff Sergeant Jamiri Hawang Abraham, assigned to the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) of Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO).
Police said Abraham was a relative of the late DI-ASG leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan.
Combined police and military forces were tapped to implement a search warrant following reports about the alleged plan of Sawadjaan group to conduct atrocities in Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi area.
During the service of search warrant, Abraham fired a 9mm pistol at the lawmen, prompting them to retaliate. The suspect died on the spot.
Ylagan said the shootout took place at Galvez Drive, Barangay Mampang in this city about 4:15 a.m., Wednesday, Abraham, a native of Barangay Latih, Patikul, Sulu, was detailed in Sulu Provincial Police Office from 2004 to 2018, according to police report.
He was also cousin of ASG sub-leader Ben Quirino, alias “Ben Tatoh”, and slain ASG sub-leader Muammar Askali.
When he was in Sulu, Abraham was monitored financing the DI-ASG and providing ammunition and firearms to DI-ASG based in Patikul, Sulu.
According to Ylagan, Abraham was also involved in the kidnapping activities of the ASG. He facilitated the negotiations for the release of kidnapped victims in Sulu in exchange for ransom money.
During the operation, the raiding team recovered a .45-caliber pistol; a 9mm pistol, improvise explosive device (IED) components, and one M16 rifle.
