TWO leaders of a lawless group with links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were captured in a firefight with Army soldiers on Sunday in North Cotabato.
The two were identified as brothers Montukan Bungay and Walo Bungay, leaders of the Bungay armed lawless group that the military said was engaged in extortion, murder and other atrocities in Central Mindanao.
The Maguindanao-based 6th Infantry Division said the Bungay brothers are two of the most wanted persons in SOCCSKSARGEN region with numerous arrest warrants issued against them.
Troops from the 602nd Brigade were conducting security operation early Sunday morning when they clashed with the armed group in the marshy area of Barangay Bualan in Pikit town.
The brothers were captured after a six-hour running gun battle. They yielded two M16 rifles, a cal.45 pistol, ammunition and other war materiel.
“Based on the reports from the ground, the armed lawless group of the Bungay Brothers harbored the group of Karialan who has been evading government forces,” said 602nd Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong.
