One of the most wanted terrorist bombers in the Philippines took a bullet fired by his own people because of an internal dispute and a coveted bounty worth $1 million put up by the United States government.
The Philippine government and military have confirmed that fellow members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), shot Abdul Basit Usman dead on Sunday along with five other co-members, Reuters reported.
His death could bring light to the peace accord that the Philippine government is trying to establish with Muslim rebels led by the MILF in Mindanao, an island south of capital Manila. The 45-year insurgency in Mindanao had displaced 2 million residents, while 120,000 have perished.
Al Qaeda links had been established with Usman since 2002 and had been blamed for several bomb assaults in different provinces of Mindanao. One of which was the bombing of a mall in General Santos province that left 15 people killed and injured 44.
Philippine Military General Gregorio Pio Catapang said in a press briefing that Usman resisted arrest by fellow members when he was passing through a remote village in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao province, Reuters reported.
According to a related report by The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Usman was accompanied by seven body guards, who engaged the other MILF members in a gunfight after they refused to surrender to the 118th base command of the MILF in the province.
Guindulungan Mayor Midpantao Midtimbang and village leader Muti Chair Gayak Midtimbang confirmed Usman's death and are now helping the military gather photos to prove this. Midtimbang told the publication that Usman's family and relatives had collected his body.
A military source said Usman was killed in an operation led by commander Barok of the MILF's 118th base command in Barangay Muti at 11:50 a.m
