Mangudadatu: Usman wounded, hiding

Abdul Basit Usman

MANILA — Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu revealed on Friday that wanted terrorist Basit Usman was wounded during the encounter in Mamasapano last Jan. 25 and might still be hiding.

“Basit Usman sustained a wound in his shoulder. He is in the area,” Mangudadatu said in Filipino, during an interview with radio station dzBB.

“They are hiding in Mamasapano” and may be moving from one area to another to evade pursuers, Mangudadatu said.

He added that Usman is currently being secured by at least 10 persons.

Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc however said that they have yet to verify the information.

Other informants also confirming that Usman was still alive even reported that Usman was known as “Teng” in the community where he  is currently staying.

Usman served as the interpreter and bagman of Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, the Malaysian Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist who was killed by SAF commandos during the operation in Mamasapano.

According to reports, he is also a bomb expert and has been indicted for his involvement in the bombing incidents in Mindanao including the one in General Santos City in 2002 which killed 15 and injured 60.