GUNMEN’S FIREARMS. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group operatives account for the firearms and ammunition seized from a group of gunmen in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur, during a predawn raid Sunday (June 18, 2023). At least seven gunmen were killed in the incident, including two suspects long wanted by the police. (Photo courtesy of Police Regional Office-BARMM)
DATU PAGLAS, Maguindanao del Sur – Seven gunmen were killed and a police officer was injured following a predawn law enforcement operation in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur.
Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, police director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said the police team involved in the Barangay Madidis operation was armed with a warrant of arrest against two of the slain suspects.
“The suspects resisted and fired at our lawmen that injured a police officer,” Nobleza said in a radio interview Monday.
Emma Husain, wife of Nurjihad Husain, one of the fatalities in the operation, earlier claimed her husband was unarmed and was not a terrorist as the police have claimed.
However, Nobleza said the suspects were involved in the bombing of an electrical transmission tower in Carmen, North Cotabato in 2016 and the Datu Paglas public market attack in 2021.
“They were wanted persons involved in various criminal activities in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces,” Nobleza said.
Backed by soldiers, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of Maguindanao del Sur conducted the operation at about 2 a.m. against Nasser Yusseff Husain and his brother Norjihad Madidis Husain when a shootout broke out.
Both were killed in the shootout, Nobleza said, adding that the raiding team fired back to defend themselves.
Also killed, according to CIDG reports, were Mamex Karem, Dela Singkala, Morsid Madidis, Jerry Pagugunang, and his brother Punpugay, all of Barangay Damawato, Datu Paglas.
Nobleza said the raiding team seized an M16 rifle, two .45-caliber pistols and ammunition for various calibers from the gunmen. (PNA)
