President Aquino: Government will Hunt Down Escaped Terrorist Suspect Usman

President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday vowed that the government will hunt down bomb-making expert Abdul Basit Usman, who was able to escape during the law enforcement operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Sunday.

“Inutos na natin sa kinauukulan ang pagpaplano ng mas mahusay na operasyong hulihin ang taong ito. Kumikilos na po ang inyong gobyerno, hindi lamang sa mga oras na ito, kundi bago pa man ako humarap sa inyo, upang isakatuparan ito,” President Aquino said during the necrological service for the 44 fallen members of the Philippine National Police – Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) held in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City.

“Patutunayan po natin ang pag-iral ng batas sa buong Pilipinas. Tinitiyak ko po sa inyo, mahuhuli natin si Usman,” he said.

Usman and Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Abu Marwan, were the target of Sunday’s police operation that led to the death of 44 members of the SAF during an encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

“Sa nangyaring operasyong ito ng SAF, diumano’y napatay ang pangunahing target na si Marwan. Umasa naman po kayo na ang pangalawang target na hindi natin nahuli noon, ay makukuha din natin. At kilala ninyo naman po ako, kapag nagbitiw ako ng salita, tinutupad natin. Number 1 po sa listahan ng dapat nating gawin ay ang pagdakip kay Basit Usman,” he said.

Marwan was a member of the Jemaah Islamiyah’s (JI) central command that masterminded the Bali bombing in October 2002, while Usman has been linked to an explosive manufacturing facility in Shariff Aguak, Maguindano that is reportedly operated by the JI.

According to news reports, Usman was wounded during a joint military and police operation against him in June 2014, but was able to escape.

The remains of 41 SAF members will be at Camp Bagong Diwa for public viewing for a few days before they are sent to their respective families for burial.

Two fallen SAF members have already been buried in Zamboanga while the remains of one member has been sent to Bicol. PND (ag)