Philippines
Philippines

IN PHOTOS: The hunt for Marwan

Reynaldo Santos Jr
IN PHOTOS: The hunt for Marwan

Jeoffrey Maitem

Images of Mamasapano town in Maguindanao 3 days after the deadly 'misencounter' between policemen and the MILF, and before President Aquino addressed the nation to defend the SAF operation

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines—On January 25, a Battalion of Philippine National Policer Special Action Force came to Mamasapano town in Maguindanao for a law enforcement operation against a most wanted man, Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan. 

Zulkifli has a $5-million bounty on his head from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation over his involvement in the 2002 bombing in Bali, Indonesia, that left 110 foreign nationals dead. He was reportedly in Mamasapano.

But while members of PNP SAF were pulling out from the scene after a firefight with guerillas of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, they encountered the group of MILF’s 105thBase Command. The intense fighting lasted for 13 hours. Outnumbered, the police ran out of bullets. As a result, 44 of them were killed; 11 others were wounded.

 

The Philippine government claimed the police killed Marwan in the operation, but has not produced his body or a photograph of it. (READ: Dead or alive? Top terrorist was cops’ target)

Below are photos from Mamasapano on Wednesday, January 28 – 3 days after the deadly “misencounter” and before President Benigno Aquino III addressed the nation to defend the SAF operation – when a Marine battalion was redeployed to the town. 

 

Policemen closed the highway leading to Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 25, 2015.
Government troops reinforcement arrive on January 25, 2015 in the town of Mamasapano, Maguindanao Province after dozens of elite policemen under Philippine National Police Special Action Forces were killed following a clashed with a Muslim rebel group.
A police truck carrying the bodies of comrades passes the national highway during a retrieval operation on January 26, 2015 in Mamasapano, Maguindanao Province. The death toll of government fatalities in the fierce firefight reached fifty.
A man points to reporters January 28, 2015 the site where SAF policemen and rebels first engaged in intense fighting on January 25, 2015 in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
Residents survey January 28, 2015 the scene in Tukanalipao, Mamasapano Maguindanao where 44 SAF members died and 11 others wounded during a clash with combined forces of MILF and BIFF.
Bodies of slain policemen killed in intense fighting with Moro rebels coddling Malaysian terror bomb expert in Mamasapano, Maguindanao lies on the ground of morgue inside the 6th Division camp in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, January 27, 2014.
SOCO and police personnel are seen January 27, 2015 inside the morgue at the headquarters of 6th Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat , Maguindanao.
Policemen carry Tuesday, January 27, 2015 a coffin of their colleague among the 44 killed during an intense fighting with Muslim rebels from a morgue inside the headquarters of 6th Division in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao.
Children affected by the conflict in the village of Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao are seen with their parents waiting for the distribution of relief assistance.
– Rappler.com

 

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