Security forces foil terror plot in Maguindanao

HOME FOR PEACE --- A BIFF member shakes hands with a police officer after his group surrenders to the government to live normal lives. (Photo supplied – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

PAGLAT, Maguindanao --- Combined elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police foiled the attempt to bomb urban centers in Sultan Kudarat after seizing "Anti- Personnel Mines" and

triggering devices in Damakling village here at around 5:00a.m. last January 12.

The 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion led by Lt. Col. Harold M Cabunoc said his unit orchestrated the counter-terrorist operations after learning about the presence of bombs in a remote village of Pagalad.

“Our informant showed us the pictures of terrorist bombers Ustadz Yasser Saligan and his cohort, Sheik Makakena a.k.a. Abu Jihad, as they detonated a bomb to test its lethality. We had been tracking the suspects since November 2018,” said Lt. Col. Cabunoc.

Under the cover of darkness, the combined elements of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Special Action Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Maguindanao Provincial Police Office swooped down on the known terrorist lair at around

3:00a.m. that day.

The raiding teams collared five persons who were caught off-guard bythe presence of heavily armed soldiers and SAF commandos.

The troops seized four "Anti-Personnel Mines" and three Cal .45 M1911AI Pistol from the suspects.

Two of the primary suspects, Abu Jihad and Ustadz Yasser, eluded arrest by jumping into the murky water of the Liguasan Marsh upon sensing the presence of government troops.

Military pressure

At around 10:00a.m., the same raiding teams proceeded to Makainis village, General Salipada K Pendatun town to receive five members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters(BIFF) who voluntarily surrendered to the government.

The surrenderees belong to the BIFF faction led by commander Mayogantong Bansil, a notorious rebel who had been involved in several atrocities against government troops and the civilian population.

Accordingly, commander Mayogantong sent surrender feelers after knowing the presence of security forces in the adjacent town of Paglat some five kilometers away.

Mayogantong contacted Lt. Col. Cabunoc to confirm his willingness to laydown his arms.

"I am afraid that the the AFP will launch offensives against our group,"said  Mayogantong,

Mayogantong and his men surrendered four high powered firearms, including a Cal. 50 Sniper Rifle, two M1 Garand Rifles, and a 40mm M79Grenade Launcher.

The surrendered weapons are to be presented to Brig. Gen. Robert Dauz, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, the unit that has operational control over the 33rd Infantry Battalion.

Brig. Gen. Dauz, who earned his first star the other week, commended the operating troops for the latest feat in the campaign against terrorism and violent extremism.“You have shown the expertise in handling the security threats without incurring casualties. Share these best practices in the conduct of operations to all Army units in Central Mindanao.”

Maj. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6thInfantry Division, said that the BIFF terrorists have nowhere to hide.“We have won the support of the people in Central Mindanao. The people themselves have voluntarily provided information about the hiding places of the terrorists.”

The 33rd Infantry Battalion has facilitated the surrender of various threat groups, both in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, through the effective employment of combat operations, community engagements, and civil affairs activities.

Since February 2017, the unit has successfully facilitated the surrender of 203 communist rebels and 32 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, setting a benchmark in the conduct of military operations ina “two front war” against distinct threat groups.(ODPA, 6th ID – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Army foils Dawlah Islamiyah Torayfie Group bombing plot

CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao--- An “Anti-Personnel Mine” was recovered by troops of the 40th Infantry Battalion in a five-minute encountered at Sitio Landing Fish of Barangay Darampua in Sultan Sa Barongis, Maguindanao at around 9:30 in the morning last January 9.

While acting on a report from a concerned civilian regarding the transport of “Anti-Personnel Mines” towards Cotabato City or Midsayap, North Cotabato,military troopers encountered two members of the Dawlah Islamiyah Torayfie Group (DITG) under Salahudin Hassan that resulted to the recovery of one explosive composed of three unexploded ordnance of 81MM with triggering device.

No casualty was reported on the government side to the undetermined number on the enemy side.

The civilian tipster said that the group of Salahudin Hassan had planned to transport the “Anti-Personnel Mines” from the marshy area of Sultan Sa Barongis to conduct terror attack in urbanized areas.

The elements of the 32nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal of the Army with K9 team immediately arrived in the area and safely disrupted the explosive.

"After the bombing in Cotabato City, I instructed the men of our Joint Task Force Central to be on heightened alert to prevent more bombing attacks in Central Mindanao," said JTF commander Maj. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana.

the commander also commended the troops for their fast action and successfully intercepting the DITG planned bombing attacks in Central Mindanao. (ODPA, 6th ID – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Esperanza LGU turns over loose firearms

HOME FOR PEACE --- A BIFF member shakes hands with a police officer after his group surrenders to the government to live normal lives. (Photo supplied – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao --- A total of 32 loose firearms were handed-over to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Alvin G. Iyog in a turn-over ceremony last January 11 at the Municipal Hall of Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat.

.The ceremony was spearheaded by Helen Latog, mayor of The municipality of Esperanza.

One 12 gauge shotgun with ammunitions and one cal.40 light pistol were handed-over by the local folks from different barangays of the Esperanza town facilitated by the local government.

"The hand over is a continuing campaign against the proliferation ofloose firearms in the area of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade inpartnership with other stakeholders and local government," said

Brig. Gen. Robert C. Dauz.

Maj. Gen. Cirilito E. Sobejana, commander of the Joint Task Force Central, expressed his gratitude to the efforts of the local government officials and its constituents of Esperanza for extending their support of the AFP’s campaign against loose firearms.

"I also commend Brig. Gen. Dauz and Lt. Col. Iyog, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade and 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, respectively, for the job well-done." Maj. Gen. Sobejana added.

A total of 1,972 have been handed over and recovered in the areas of the JTF Central since the campaign was started. (ODPA, 6th ID – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Bomb courier neutralized in a shootout with troops

CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao ---Joint elements of the 5th SF Battalion and Cotabato City Police Office neutralized a bomb courier in a shootout last January 9 in the evening at the Cotabato City East Diversion Road, Barangqay Tamontaka 2. who is transporting an “Anti-Personnel Mines.”

The suspect, riding a motorcycle and transporting an “anti personnel mines,” was flagged down at a check point by the government troops as he acted suspicious while approaching the checkpoint.

When the troops approached to check him, he refused to yield, but

instead drew a pistol and fired several rounds that led to a brief shoot-out resulting to the wounding of the suspect.

The suspect was immediately brought to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Found in the suspect’s possession were calibre .45 pistol loaded with ammunitions, personal belongings, cash amounting to P5,700, and a black Honda motorcycle.

In the course of processing the crime scene, one suspected “anti-personnel mine” was found inside the U-box of the suspect’s motorcycle.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team of the PNP immediately conducted safety procedure and recovered the component of the unexploded ordnance of 81mm mortar as main charge with two cell phones.

“The vigilance of our troops in securing Cotabato City and its residents is very commendable and worthy of emulation. We would like to reassure the public that your military and police forces will always be on guard to preserve the peace and order in our area of responsibility,”  6th Infantry Division commander Maj.Gen. CirilitoSobejana said.

The identity of the suspect is still to be verified (as of this posting) by the investigation team of the PNP. (ODPA, 6th ID – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

Editorial

Let democracy work in BOL ratification

Residents in the component provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and other territorial inclusions will have another historic political move as they will ratify on January 21 the Bangsamoro Organic Law, formerly the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, that will establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to replace the ARMM.

        The BOL is a product of the long peace negotiations between and among the government, Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and other stakeholders to sustain the peace efforts in south of Mindanao and put the new political entity into development path after battered for so many years by war and conflict that resulted to dislocations and loss of lives, divisiveness, unrest, destruction, and worsening poverty. 

        President Rodrigo Duterte himself supports the BOL and advocates would want to include Cotabato City, being a crown jewel, as part of the Bangsamoro region. The city, seat of the current ARMM, is home to many services and utilities such as commerce, banking and finance, and high level education. But the city political leadership is nil on the BOL as it campaigns for non-inclusion. The people, however,  have the final say come plebiscite day and then on February 6 in other inclusion areas.

        The city is already beefed up with security forces come plebiscite day to ensure and safeguard the holding of the historic political exercise. There is surety that the present ARMM landscape would be maintained under the BARMM should the BOL be ratified. The plebiscite will certainly be a tight contest in Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan.

        It is likely that Cotabato City will be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections following the December 31, 2018 bombing at the façade of South Seas mall that killed two and injured scores of innocent civilians at the scene of terror attack which some sectors link to the BOL plebiscite, thus, creating fear and anxieties among residents as they prepare for the voting.

        There is call for democracy to work during the political exercise, one that is free from harassment, intimidation, and coercion. Though intense is the BOL campaign in the city, let the people make their free choice --- to be included or not in the BARMM. As in election period, let the people be free in their choice(s) and let the outcome take its course.

        Though the BOL campaign has created a divide among constituents like in national and local government elections, nevertheless let free democracy prevail in the BOL ratification. Altogether we make another history in our homeland come plebiscite day.