Suspect in Jolo blasts eludes arrest but aide killed in clash with troops in Sulu
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2019 02:48:46 +0000
A suspect behind the Jolo Cathedral blasts eluded arrest but his aide was killed in an armed confrontation in Patikul, Sulu on Tuesday evening.
Alias Kamah, the alleged detonator of the twin bombs at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral that killed 21 people on January 27, clashed with joint forces of police and government troops in a hot pursuit operation at about 6:30 p.m. in Barangay Latih.
With Kamah were his aide Ommal Yusop and another unidentified person.
Based on a spot report, Yusop immediately fired his gun, prompting government security forces to retaliate.
Kamah and his other companion escaped.
Authorities recovered one pistol, one empty shell, five live ammunition, and one magazine.
The military said alias Kama, a bomb maker whose brother is slain Abu Sayyaf Group leader Surakah Ingog, may have used a cellphone device in detonating the bombs.
He was caught on CCTV running away from the church moments after the explosion.
The Ajang-ajang, a subgroup of Abu Sayyaf, is currently treated as the primary suspect in the blast.
President Rodrigo Duterte and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the incident was the handiwork of suicide bombers. ROY NARRA
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