An alleged member of the Islamist militant Dawlah Islamiya Group was killed during a drug buy-bust operation in Barangay Sapakan, Rajah Buayan town of Maguindanao del Sur, around 4 p.m. on Monday.
Captain Joel Lebrilla, chief of police for Rajah Buayan, said the suspect, Moner Usman, a resident of Darampua village in nearby Sultan Sa Barongis town, was a suspected member of the Daulah Islamiyah Hassan Group and had pending warrants of arrest.
According to Lebrilla, personnel from the Rajah Buayan police, the Special Action Force (SAF), and other units of the Provincial Police Office (PPO) of Maguindanao del Sur were about to conduct the operation when the suspect sensed he was transacting with police officers, prompting him to fight.
He was fatally shot during the exchange of gunfire, while one member of the SAF sustained injuries.
Authorities recovered a firearm, ammunition, and a sachet of illegal drugs.
Usman had six standing warrants of arrest-two counts of murder, one count of carnapping, and three counts of frustrated murder.
He was also tagged as the most wanted person by the Isulan municipal police station and one of the top three most wanted persons by the Sultan Kudarat provincial police office.
The wounded police officer is now recuperating in a hospital