The military announced today that a suspected member of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf was killed in a shootout with police and military forces in the village of Lapid-Lapid in Bongao in Tawi-Tawi.
A statement released by Naval Forces Western Mindanao Commander Rear Admiral Rene V. Medina identified the suspected terrorist as Shaifful Julaili, reported Manila Bulletin.
Julaili was killed on Tuesday by police and military forces after he fled from a checkpoint that the authorities were guarding, reported GMA News. He allegedly shot them first; the authorities fired back.
Julalili sustained gunshot wounds to his chest and was declared dead on arrival when he was brought to a hospital, ABS-CBN reported.
According to Medina, the suspect was involved in a series of kidnappings in Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, Malaysia.
The authorities said that they have intensified security in Tawi-Tawi following the Jan. 27 bombing of a church in Jolo, Sulu which killed 21 people and injured 111 others.
Five suspects are now under police custody in connection with the Jolo bombing. However, the suspected mastermind behind the attack, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, remains at large.
