MSU BOMBING ‘MASTERMIND’ KILLED IN LANAO DEL SUR CLASH — AFP

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday said that the alleged mastermind in the December 2023 bombing of the Mindanao State University (MSU) gymnasium in Marawi City was killed in an encounter in Lanao del Sur.

According to AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad, Khadafi Mimbesa alias “Engineer,” the alleged Amir of the Dawlah Islamiyah terror group, was killed in military operations in Lanao del Sur province last month.

Trinidad said that Mimbesa’s death was confirmed through a statement of a surrendered terrorist identified only as “Khatab,” a high-value individual of the DI-Maute Group, who surrendered to the 2nd Mechanized Brigade on Sunday.

Seized during military operations were nine high-powered firearms, a bandolier, four Baofeng radios, and a smartphone, according to Trinidad.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. lauded the troops in successfully pursuing those responsible for the MSU bombing and called on remnants of the terror group to surrender.

Brawner said the government will relentlessly pursue those who will seek to disturb the peace.