Amin Baco, a notorious Malaysian militant and bomb maker, is currently running the Southeast Asian chapter of the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) as its new ameer.
According to a report published by The Manila Times, Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa confirmed the matter to media in a press conference last Monday.
Rosa added that the information was gleaned from interrogating IS militants recently arrested in Philippines.
The Philippines police brought along suspected terrorist Muhammad Ilham Syahputra at the press conference.
The 22-year old Indonesian was arrested during a raid at Barangay Luksa Datu area in Marawi on November 1.
During interrogation, Syahputra told police that Amin Baco took over as the new ameer of IS in the region following the death of Isnilon Hapilon, who was killed by Philippines military on October 16 this year.
“Baco is not only leading the remaining stragglers, but also the whole Southeast Asia. He assumed the position of Hapilon as ameer in Southeast Asia,” Rosa said.
Baco, aka Abu Jihad, fought alongside the Maute group during the five-month siege of Marawi. The whereabouts of Baco are not yet known by the country’s police. He was last seen in the main battle area of Marawi with 30 other stragglers.
PNP Deputy Director General for Operations Fernando Mendez said Baco was trained by another notorious Malaysian terrorist named Zulkifli Bin Hir, who was killed in a police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
