Alleged Isnilon Hapilon aide killed in Zamboanga City police operation

A suspected sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf group has been killed during a police operation in Zamboanga City, authorities said on Tuesday.

The Philippine National Police said law enforcers were about to serve a warrant of arrest against Arrasid Adjing Halissam, also known as Guru Ara, when he shot at policemen who promptly fired back.

Halissam, allegedly the trusted aide of slain ASG leader Isnilon Hapilon, was about to be arrested for illegal possession of explosives around 3 a.m. when the shooting incident happened.

Halissam was in the 2018 periodic status report on local terrorist groups. He was identified under the Ajijul group or the Zamboanga cell of the Abu Sayyaf.

Aside from being the trusted aide of Hapilon,  Halissam was also allegedly the facilitator of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan, who was killed in the 2015 Mamasapano clash.

PNP Intelligence Group acting director Police Colonel Warren De Leon said Halissam pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2014 together with Hapilon.

After Hapilon's death in October 2017, Halissam moved to Sulu and joined the group of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, who was also believed to be dead after a July 6, 2020 encounter in Sulu.

Police said Halissam was involved in various hostilities such as kidnapping and beheading incidents. He was also involved in bombing attacks such as those in Jolo Cathedral and in the military detachment in Indanan.

His recent activities include facilitating the recruitment of members for the Dawlah Islamiya and acting as financial conduit of the Abu Sayyaf.

Halissam was also allegedly coordinating with Abu Sayyaf leader Mundi Sawadjaan to conduct terror attacks in Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi. -NB, GMA News