Usman nearly caught last Saturday in Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines - Government troops almost captured terrorist Basit Usman during heavy fighting last Saturday in Shariff Saidona, Maguindanao that killed four of his men, including a suspected foreign jihadist, sources revealed yesterday.

An official said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) provided the information to the Marines on the whereabouts of Usman.

“The Marines almost got him had he exposed himself while hiding behind one of his men who was killed in the process, along with three others,” the official said, referring to the cousin of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) founder Ameril Umbra Kato and a foreign-looking jihadist.

The military is verifying the identity of the slain foreigner, who they said bore similarities to a known terrorist.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala said authorities are now conducting medico-legal tests to determine the identity of the suspected terrorist.

“He is about five feet eight inches tall, fair complexioned and South Asian-looking. He had similarities with one of those in the terror list,” Kakilala said.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the foreign-looking man was identified as Tahir Sapal, also known as Dotin. She said a relative claimed Sapal’s body last Monday.

Kakilala said Sapal might have been a member of the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

“He could be an international terrorist. He could be one of the JI. Until such time we validate his identity, we cannot be sure,” Kakilala said.

Sapal was among the four persons killed by Marines during an encounter with government troops in Maguindanao.

On the other hand, an official said the MILF is providing the troops with information, including Usman reportedly nursing a gunshot wound he sustained during the firefight in Mamasapano last Jan. 25 where 44 Special Action Force (SAF) police commandos were killed.

“The Marine Force Recon are now hot on his trail with the help of the MILF,” the official said.

Kakilala said fighting broke out anew yesterday between government forces and the BIFF in the area of operations comprising the towns of Salvo, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak.

Most of these areas used to be enclaves of the BIFF and their Justice for Islamic Movement (JIM) counterparts.

The MILF is also operating in the area but has moved out to allow the military to go after the BIFF and JIM.

“Clashes broke out anew at around 4 p.m. yesterday within the area of operations,” Kakilala said, adding that fighting between government troops and the BIFF was in progress as of press time.

Fighting erupted as the troops were conducting clearing operations.

In the two weeks of fighting in areas of North Cotabato and Maguindanao, the AFP reported government forces killed 73 rebels while 33 others were wounded.

Four Army troopers, including a young Scout Ranger officer, were also killed in five hours of heavy fighting at Barangay Muslim, Guindulungan town. The area is believed to be the hiding place of Kato.

The clashes are part of the all-out offensive launched by the military against the BIFF to bring back normalcy in Maguindanao and Cotabato. More than 40,000 people or about 8,000 families have been displaced by the gun battles.

The military originally intended to end the offensive last Sunday but it was extended to next Friday because of the continuing resistance of the BIFF. – With John Unson, Alexis Romero