Maute bomb expert killed, cop hurt in GenSan raid
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – An alleged “bomb expert” of the Islamic State-inspired Maute terror group was killed while a police officer was wounded in an operation at a village here early Monday.
Chief Supt. Marcelo Morales, Region 12 police director, identified the slain suspect as Najib Calimba Pundug alias Najib Hussein, who was reportedly a close associate of the new Maute leader, Owayda Benito Marohombsar, alias Abu Dar.
Colonel Adonis Bajao, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) GenSan, the Inter-Agency Group composed of personnel from JTF GenSan and Regional Mobile Force (RMF), the Philippine National Police Office 12 served a Warrant of Arrest issued by the Judicial Branch 11 in Malabang, Lanao del Sur for serious detention and kidnapping against the suspect when he resisted and shot one of the law enforcers, prompting the arresting team to shoot back that led to his death.
“He tried to throw a grenade but it was fortunate that he was neutralized in time by the operating team,” he told reporters.
Recovered at the scene were a 9-mm Glock pistol, two grenades, cellular phones, several bomb-making materials and a black flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria or ISIS.
PO3 Feo, who is a member of the RMFB-12, sustained four gunshot wounds but was already declared in stable condition before noon by attending doctors at the GenSan Medical Center.
Morales said the operation mainly targeted Pundug, who was reportedly involved in the five-month siege of Marawi City by the Maute terror group last year.
Pundug, who managed to escape and resettle in the city, was named in the martial law arrest order for murder, possession of explosives, kidnapping, and illegal detention charges.
Prior to the operation, Morales said intelligence operatives monitored the presence of Pundug and eventually confirmed it in a series of surveillance operations.
A follow-up operation was conducted by the Inter-Agency Group at about 7 a.m. of the same day that led to the arrest of Nafisa Pundug, wife of Abu Dar and a fugitive who escaped from the Marawi City Jail in 2016.
Pundug has a standing warrant for Criminal Case No. 0450-2017 for violation of Section 3 of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1865 as amended by Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9516 (illegal possession of blasting cap/incendiary device) at her safe house in Purok Maunlad, Brgy. Apopong, General Santos City.
Likewise, four other persons were arrested and were charged for violation of PD 1829 (Obstruction of Justice) after they prevented the arrest of Nafisa Pundog. They were identified as: Nafah Pundug Macaraya, 35; Famida Amer Macasindel, 29; Naica Amina Calimba Pundug , 22; Sittie Nashibah Calimba Pundug, 37; and Saramina Calimba Pundug, 60.
On the other hand, a certain Mohamad Naif Pundug, 23, brother of Najib Pundug alias Najib Hussein will be charged with illegal possession of explosives (hand grenade) after the arresting team found in his possession one fragmentation hand grenade.
The six suspects are currently undergoing medical examination and subsequently, will be brought back to the Police Station 7 of General Santos City for further legal procedures and processing. (With a report from PNA)