GOVERNMENT troops arrested nine members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-inspired Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG) after a firefight in Tubaran town in Lanao del Sur on Saturday.
AFP Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr. said a joint team from the military and police swooped down on the suspects’ lair in Barangay Paigoay at around 1:20 a.m. to serve arrest warrants for murder and attempted murder.
Vinluan said the arrest warrants were issued against DI members Farahufon Hadji Satar, alias Abu Zacariah and Omar; and Muna Kali, alias Abu Dimam.
Vinluan said the two and their cohorts opened fire at the troops, who returned fire.
“The targets were able to elude arrest; nevertheless the operation resulted in the apprehension of nine of their cohorts,” said Vinluan.
Arrested were Camaroden Tindug, 52; Sabdullah Sarip, 36; Oter Macaungun, 35; Asnare Alisood, 20; Alisood Dima, 52; Sowaib Abdullah, 18; Saaduden Adapun, 30; Zaenal Abdulatip, 33; and Aleem Salih Pitiilan, 45.
Recovered from them were two M16 rifles, a Carbine, two cal. 45 pistols, magazines with ammunition, six cellphones, and propaganda materials, among others.
They suspects and the recovered items were brought to a military facility, pending the filing of charges against them.
“We continue to intensify our operations to hunt and pound the remaining DI-MG members in our area of operation,” said Gen. Generoso Ponio, commander of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula Lanao provinces).
Since January this year, JTF ZamPeLan troops have killed two DI-MG members and arrested nine in military operations. Seven other group members surrendered to the military.
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities turned over to the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command last Friday eight Abu Sayyaf members who were arrested in Sabah last May 8.
The eight were sub-leader Sansibar Bensio, Firdaus Omar, Munimar Binda, Ladin Mujahirin Faizal, Hamzah Faizal, Sansis Mohammad, Halim Akhir, and Yusuf Akram.
They were turned over by Malaysia’s Eastern Sabah Security Command (EESCOM) during rites in Taganak town, Tawi-Tawi.
