2 ASG in Lamitan bombing give up

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2020 09:45:04 +0000

Two self-confessed members of the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group linked to the 2018 Lamitan City bombing have surrendered to authorities in Basilan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said yesterday.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, identified the ASG rebels as Suwaib Mungkay, alias “Black,” and Nakib Asmad, alias “Halifa.”

Mungkay and Asmad yielded to elements of the 4th Special Forces Battalion and 19th Special Forces Company in coordination with the municipality of Hadji Mohammad Ajul last Thursday.

According to Brig. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, commander of Joint Task Force Basilan, the suspects were involved in the Lamitan City bombing on July 31, 2018.

A white van carrying explosives was flagged by members of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in a checkpoint at the boundary of Barangay Bulanting, Colonia, and Maganda in Lamitan City when it suddenly exploded.

The attack claimed the lives of 10 persons and the military considered the ASG as its primary suspect.

It was not immediately clear what was the participation of Mungkay and Asmad in the bombing.

Encinas said Mungkay and Asmad turned over an M1 carbine with magazine and five rounds of ammunition and a caliber .45 pistol lo
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