CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Government forces arrested on Wednesday four members of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao during a raid but missed its main target, a leader of the group.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commander of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the four suspects were caught during a 5 a.m. raid by combined Army and police elements at a house in Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao.
Cabunoc identified the arrested individuals as Ronex Langalen, 47; Anwar Abdullah, 26; Allakbar Sekung, 20; and Renante Milan, 37; all alleged BIFF members operating in the province.
Led by Cabunoc himsef, the government troopers were on a mission to get suspected BIFF sub-leader Datu Parido Balabagan alias Banog in far-flung Barangay Lumabao, Gen. Salipada K Pendatun, but missed him.
“The principal suspect (Banog) managed to escape along with his eight followers using a secret passage behind the compound where he was hiding,” the military official told reporters here on Thursday.
Also seized during the raid were high-power firearms and explosives comprising an M14 rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, three MK2 hand grenades, and assorted ammunition.
The arrested persons were handed over to Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao chief, Senior Supt. James Gulmatico, for the cases that would be filed against them.
Col. Robert Dauz, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade (MIB), said the arrest of the suspects came amid reports that BIFF radicals were planning to attack the municipal police station of neighboring Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat before the raid on Wednesday.
“This is the outcome of our all-out efforts against armed threats to attack the police station in Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat a few days ago,” Dauz said.
Major General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, has directed the 1st MIB to hunt down the remnants of the BIFF in Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun to thwart the group’s plan to get back at government forces or non-combatant civilians.
“You must continuously pursue them so that we can prevent their atrocities against hapless civilians,” Sobejana said, adding that military units in Central Mindanao will continue coordinating with police authorities to synergize efforts against the terrorists. ( Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
