Manila: Two armed men were killed and three government forces were injured during a shootout that erupted while serving warrants of arrest in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police chief, identified the fatalities as Samsudin Usman, alias Krega, who was one of the most wanted persons in the province and reportedly a member of the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and a certain Piong. Usman died on the spot, while Piong died on the way to the hospital. Usman’s son, Barry, was arrested during the operation.

Wounded in the incident were Capt. Sammy Panig, deputy chief of the Datu Odin municipal police, as well as Corporal Marson Quijano and Private Alex Bajoyo Jr., both members of Marine Battalion Landing Team 5.

Madin reported that a joint police and Marines team was serving four warrants of arrest against Samsudin Usman at his house in Barangay Semba, when he and his son resisted by firing toward the approaching government forces. ‘Upon arrival, the suspect and his cohorts fired upon the operating team, prompting the team to cover and retaliate, which resulted in the death of two suspects and the arrest of another,’ Madin said.

The operating troops recovered one Bushmaster rifle, one M16 rifle, one .45-caliber pistol, ammunition, illegal drugs, and shabu paraphernalia.