ALEOSAN, North Cotabato – Police personnel across the province of North Cotabato have been placed on heightened alert even after the observance of the Holy Week, an official said Monday.
Supt. Bernard Tayong, North Cotabato police spokesperson, said the heightened alert status came about after the law enforcers foiled a bombing mission of suspected sub-leader of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in this town on Good Friday.
Tayong identified the suspect as Bads Basilan, an alleged bomber of IS linked Moro rebel armed group.
Basilan, a resident of Barangay Kudarangan, Midsayap, North Cotabato, was driving his motorbike without a license plate from Midsayap to Aleosan at about 7 p.m on March 30.
Senior Insp. Edwin Abantes, Aleosan town police chief, said police personnel conducting checkpoint in Barangay Dualing flagged down Basilan for inspection.
“He pulled his gun and shot a police officer as he tried to sped off but missed,” Abantes said, prompting other police officers to open fire on Basilan, hitting him in various parts of his body.
Abantes said policemen brought the suspect to the Aleosan District Hospital but died along the way.
Tayong said Basilan has a standing warrant of arrest for arson and murder charges issued by Judge Lily Laquindanum of Regional Trial Court Branch 24.
Abantes said a cal. 45 pistol, live and spent bullets, and a fragmentation grenade were recovered from Basilan.
Police are still determining where Basilan was supposed to set off the grenade.
Generally, the observance of the Holy Week in North Cotabato’s 17 towns was peaceful and solemn with no major untoward incident reported. (PNA)
