Amar Sansawi Usman, listed by authorities as the most wanted person in Maguindanao del Sur and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was killed early Sunday morning in a joint military and police operation in Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, along with a companion identified only as alias Syok.
The Philippine Army's 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division said the operation took place at around 5:30 a.m. on November 8, 2026, in Barangay Kapinpilan, Ampatuan. Both men were linked by authorities to the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group (DI-HG), a local extremist faction that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
Joint Law Enforcement Support Operation in Ampatuan
The 6th Infantry Division (6ID) identified the operation as a Joint Law Enforcement Support Operation (JLESO) carried out by troops of the 90th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Loqui O. Marco, working alongside units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) — including the Ampatuan Municipal Police Station, the Police Mobile Force Company, and the Special Action Force.
The Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office (PPO) described the operation as the service of an arrest warrant against Usman in Sitio Bliss, Barangay Kapinpilan, with its account placing the start time at around 5:15 a.m. The PPO said it was led by provincial police with the Provincial Intelligence Unit, Shariff Aguak police, mobile force units, the Special Action Force, and the Army's 90th Infantry Battalion, according to the Daily Tribune.
Provincial director Col. John Michael Mangahis said Usman and his companions allegedly opened fire on the approaching lawmen, triggering a gunfight. Both men were later declared dead despite medical intervention, according to police.
Suspects in the March 28 Shariff Aguak Ambush
Authorities named Usman as one of the suspects in the March 28, 2026 ambush on a police patrol in Barangay Mother Poblacion, Shariff Aguak, which authorities said killed five police officers and wounded three others. The 6ID also identified alias Syok as a suspect in the same attack and alleged he was linked to riding-in-tandem criminal activities.
According to police records cited by the Daily Tribune, Usman faced five counts of murder with no bail recommended, filed under cases before Branch 15 of the Regional Trial Court, with warrants dated May 19, 2026. He also faced three counts of frustrated murder.
Police further alleged that Usman was involved in other crimes, including robbery, motorcycle theft, gun-for-hire activities, and attacks on government forces.
Firearms and Ammunition Recovered
The 6ID said troops recovered a caliber.45 pistol and an Uzi submachine gun from the scene, along with magazines and ammunition. The items have been documented and are under investigation, the Army said.
Brigade Commander Credits Inter-Agency Coordination
Brig. Gen. Gremel B. Brual, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, credited the outcome to coordination between soldiers and police, as well as to the military's ties with local governments and residents. In a statement in Filipino, he said the operation was the product of joint military and police action, and of residents who report suspicious activities and individuals to authorities.
Maj. Gen. Edgar L. Catu, commander of the 6ID and Joint Task Force Central, commended the 601st Brigade, the 90th Infantry Battalion, and their PNP partners for their coordination and dedication in carrying out the operation.
Catu also urged members of armed groups to abandon violence and surrender to authorities. "They still have a chance to change course, return to their families, and live peacefully and within the law. They should not waste this chance," he said in Filipino, as quoted by the 6ID.
He said the 6ID and JTF Central would continue strengthening inter-agency coordination to hold threat groups accountable under the law, while respecting human rights and following legal processes.
Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group's History in the Area
The Dawlah Islamiyah is a local extremist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Its Hassan faction has long operated in the towns around Shariff Aguak and Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur. In April 2026, authorities filed criminal charges against 11 persons of interest in connection with the March 28 Shariff Aguak ambush that claimed the lives of five police officers.
Photo credit: Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division