COTABATO CITY, July 5 -- Joint military-police forces killed the leader of one of the notorious terrorist groups operating in Maguindanao del Sur during a law enforcement operation in Maguindanao del Norte before dawn Sunday.

Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, spokesperson of the Army's 6th Infantry Division (6ID), identified the slain terrorist leader as Esmael Abubakar, alias "Commander Bungos," who heads the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Bungos faction.

"Abubakar died following a shootout with government troops at past 2 a.m. in Barangay Calzada, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte," Suscano said in a statement.

He said Abubakar was alone in his hideout when government forces arrived with an arrest warrant issued by a local cou...