ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte: A suspect in the Dec 3, 2023, bombing inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) campus in Marawi City was killed along with his wife on Saturday (Aug 29) evening, the military said on Monday.
Four people were killed and 50 others were wounded when the bomb exploded while Catholics were celebrating Mass inside the campus gymnasium. The attack was blamed on the Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-Maute Group).
Maj Candidato Paduman, civil-military operations officer of the 103rd Infantry “Haribon” Brigade (103IB), said joint government security forces killed Mohaimen Hadji, alias Ibn Sali/Usama, a DI-Maute Group member, and his wife, Nesren Camar Solaiman, alias “Nesren,” during an operation in Marawi City.
He said the two were killed while troops were serving warrants of arrest against Khadafi Mimbisa, alias “Engineer,” and Mohaimen Hadji for alleged violations of Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2022.
He said the troops were fired upon while approaching the targets, prompting them to retaliate.
Paduman said Mohaimen Hadji, purportedly the DI-Maute Group’s financial link to the Islamic State, allegedly fabricated and planted the improvised explosive device (IED) used in the MSU-Marawi campus attack.
Paduman confirmed that Mimbisa managed to escape, but a manhunt to arrest him continues.
Capt Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR), said on Sunday evening that six-month-old infant was also killed in the incident after a suspected grenade allegedly left by Mimbisa, also spelled Minbesa, exploded.
She said the joint law enforcement operation was launched around 1pm in Barangay Tampilong, Marawi City, under “Oplan Pagtugis.”
Paduman said the operating team recovered an M16 rifle, a.45-calibre pistol and IED components at the encounter scene.
In a text message on Monday, Brig. Gen. Jessie Montoya, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, said the strength of the DI-Maute Group was further weakened by the slaying of Mohaimen Hadji.
He assured that the military would continue to go after the terrorist group and disband it.
The operation was led by the Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, with support from the 1403rd Regional Mobile Force Battalion, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Provincial Intelligence Unit, Provincial Explosive Ordnance and Canine Unit, Task Force Marawi, Marawi City Police Station, and the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and 103rd Infantry Brigade. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
