The suspect behind the bombing of a cathedral in Jolo, Sulu in Mindanao escaped authorities yesterday but one of his alleged relatives was killed during the encounter.
ABS-CBN News said that a joint operation of the military and police raided a house in the village of Latih in Patikul, Sulu to search for the suspect behind the bombing of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo.
The suspect, known as “Kamah,” escaped from the raid with a companion but his alleged family member Ommal Yusop was killed by the authorities.
According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the authorities said that Yusop drew his gun and shot at them as they were approaching the house, which triggered a firefight.
Recovered from the crime scene were a .45 pistol, an empty bullet shell, five bullets, and a magazine.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac said it is unclear if Yusop played a role in the church bombing in Jolo, which occurred during a Sunday mass and killed at least 21 people and left 111 injured.
Banac said that Yusop might have helped Kamah and provided him refuge after the Jolo bombings.
Rappler reported that Kamah belongs to the “Ajang-Ajang” faction of the Abu Sayaff and is believed to be the brother of a bandit and bombmaker named Surakah Ingog who died in Sulu in August. Kamah was believed to have been seen near the church on Sunday before the bombing.
Authorities are continuing the manhunt.
Air strikes began in Patikulu, Sulu yesterday after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the military to quash the Abu Sayaff, ABS-CBN News reported.
Col. Gerry Besana, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Mindanao Command told radio station DZMM: “Our all-out war versus the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf is continuous. Because the President’s order is to pulverize the Abu Sayyaf.”
