AFP: Cop wounded in Maimbung shootout dies from injuries

A police officer wounded in the shootout between former Maimbung, Sulu Vice Mayor Pando Mudjasan and security forces died from his injuries, Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Andres Centino said Sunday.

Centino explained that during the Saturday operation in which Philippine National Police (PNP)-Special Action Force policemen and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) servicemen attempted to serve search and arrest warrants on Mudjasan, a gunfight broke out.

Eight cops were wounded in the fight, two of them seriously. The injured were flown to Zamboanga City on a Black Hawk helicopter.

“All of the wounded from the PNP side were, ang total is walo ‘yung naging [a total of eight were] wounded unfortunately, and isa din ang [one of them] I think passed away yesterday,” Centino said in a radio interview.

A soldier from the 41st Infantry Battalion and one civilian were also injured, he added.

Additional data released by the police indicated that aside from the police officer who was killed, 12 soldiers and policemen were wounded during the encounter.

There were also four killed and four wounded from Mudjasan's camp. The vice mayor's current condition has yet to be determined.

Two civilians were also wounded during the encounter.

“As of 5:30 kahapon, natapos na rin ‘yung firefight at huminto na rin, nag-pull out na rin ‘yung operating units natin,” he said in a report by Efren Mamac on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

The Western Mindanao Command said that there were several establishments that burned down during the encounter, with over 6,000 individuals evacuated while clearing operations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, Mudjasan was suspected of having been a National Liberation Front or MNLF leader.

“As far as the information provided to us, dati nga daw [he was a former] MNLF commander,” Centino said.

As to Mudjasan's location as the suspects fled right after the shooting, the AFP chief said the former vice mayor could still be somewhere in Maimbung, Sulu.

“Continuing ‘yung ating effort to find out at we will coordinate with the PNP, the local police. Probably sa mga ganitong situation, they have the better perspective sa pag-alam kung nasaan talaga because nandyan lang naman sa area ito,” Centino said.

(We are trying to find out where he is. We will coordinate with the PNP and the local police. Probably in situations like this, they have a better perspective in knowing where he is because he’s just there in the area.)

“Ang focus kasi natin noon was doon sa ma-hinterlands. Itong sa Maimbung, medyo malapit lang naman ito sa baba, sa Jolo. We will continue to coordinate with PNP to find out the location,” he added.

(Our focus has been in the hinterlands. Maimbung is a little closer to Jolo. We will continue to coordinate with PNP to find out the location.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News