Marines neutralize Commander Cobra in Sultan Kudarat

From the Daily Tribune (Nov 5): Marines neutralize Commander Cobra in Sultan Kudarat

Marine forces neutralized a notorious leader of an armed group, with links to the New People’s Army (NPA), during a clash in Sultan Kudarat province yesterday morning.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, spokesman of the Philippine Navy, said that elements of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-7 (MBLT-7) encountered the band of one Ibrahim Dayao, alias Commander Cobra, in Palimbang town.

Arevalo said that troops from the Marine Special Operations Platoon of MBLT-7, led by Lt. Mark Cabaring, were on peace and development operation along Purok Nanganga, Sitio Lagaton in Baragay Baluan when they clashed with the armed group at around 6:23 a.m.

Initial result showed that Dayao was killed during the clash, said Arevalo.
Dayao’s body was recovered from the encounter site, along with an M14 rifle with three loaded magazines, an AK47, a rifle grenade, an Icom radio, a Kenwood radio, four camouflage ammunition-bearing equipment, a pair of military camouflage and a military-issued back-pack.

“This is a heavy blow to the armed lawless group linked to the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front),” said Arevalo.

“Commander Cobra and his followers are notorious lawless armed group conducting criminal activities in the hinterlands of Palimbang,” he added.

Arevalo said that the Marines will continue to pursue lawless elements in central Mindanao.

“The Marines will be relentless in its pursuit to go after criminal lawless groups operating in that area of central Mindanao to alleviate the flight of the people who have long been victims of extortion, terrorism, and other criminal activities,” said Arevalo.    

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/marines-neutralize-commander-cobra-in-sultan-kudarat