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’)