World Bulletin / News Desk

Two wanted members of a Moro Islamic Liberation Front "lost command group" were gunned down in the southern Philippines on Thursday morning, in a joint police and military operation

Joajin Salam, considered one of the country's most wanted men, was killed in a coastal area of Zamboanga - a majority Christian city in the Philippines Muslim south.

His companion - identified as Commander Esmiron - also died after sustaining gunshot wounds.

A police report reaching the Anadolu Agency said that the two were killed after they engaged the police and military as they served an arrest warrant for various crimes.

The two were found with rifles, loaded magazines and pouches marked Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front - which recently signed a peace deal with the Philippines government to pave the way for the creation of a new Muslim autonomous entity called "Bangsamoro" in the southern Philippines - was formed in the 1960s. Since its inception, various groups - dissatisfied with the main body - have spun off to demand greater Muslim autonomy.

Chief Sr. Supt Jose Bayani Gucela told AA that the men shot Thursday were members of the MILF, who were engaged in kidnapping and extortion activities in the region.

He added that warrants were out for their arrest on 10 counts of murder.

The two suspects occupied second spot in the Philippine National Police's Most Wanted List for the region, rewards of P1.5-million (US$34,191) offered for their capture.