MANILA, Philippines — A former combatant of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a close aide of slain BIFF leader Basit Usman has surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
In a statement on Wednesday, the NBI said Manap Mamaluba turned himself in to the NBI Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao office on Sept. 21.
Mamaluba’s surrender was witnessed by the police, mayor and other officials of the Datu Abdullah Sangki municipal government in Maguindanao.
An alleged leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) known as “Commander Tiger” and uncle of Mamaluba facilitated the surrender, according to the NBI.
The NBI described Mamaluba as a close aide of Usman, who was killed in 2015 allegedly by fellow BIFF members over a $1- million reward on his head.
But the MILF said Mamaluba was killed in a firefight with its members.
Usman, a bomb expert, was a target in the botched police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that killed 44 members of the Special Action Force in 2015.– Ghio Ong