Military authorities in Sultan Kudarat have intensified
manhunt against Jaafar Maguid, leader of a notorious gang in Palimbang,
following a clash Thursday that left eight of his followers dead, military
officials said Friday.
Brigadier General Emmanuel Salamat, commander of the 1st
Marine Brigade commander based in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, said the
discovery of Islamic State of Iran and Iraq (ISIS) flags does not necessary
follow the group was active members of the international terrorist
organization.
He maintained no genuine ISIS
group exists in the coastal areas of Palimbang.
In the past, members of the Sulu-based Abu Sayyaf Group were
seen in the coastal towns of Palimbang, Kalamansig and Lebak, all in Sultan
Kudarat. The area was facing the Moro Gulf
across Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi where the Abu Sayyaf also operate.
Salamat said operations are still on going to neutralize
Maguid alias “Commander Tokboy,” in the hinterlands of Barangay Butril in Palembang
Eight dead bodies were recovered by Marine forces in Sitio
Sinapingan, Barangay Butril following a 5:30 a.m. encounter. A locally-made
barret rifle, cal. 45 pistol, ammunition and five ISIS flags were also
recovered by government forces.“Pauso-uso lang para sabihin (Just for fashion
to show) they are sympathizers of ISIS and a
force to reckon with,” Army Major Felimon Tan, spokesperson of the military’s
Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson.
Except for the flags, there was no solid proof that they are
indeed hardcore ISIS members, he said.
“Our troops were patrolling in the village of Butril
“We consider them as armed lawless elements,” Tan added.
He said the group of Commander Tokboy was responsible in the
series of cattle rustling, robbery, extortion and various crimes.
Two of the fatalities were believed to be Indonesians,
police and military initial investigation showed.
One of the two alleged Indonesians was identified as Abdul
Fatah. But Tan said this is still being verified.
Also killed were Kira Sadiwang, Ustads Abdul Halim and Patu
Sumail, all residents of Barangay Kulong-Pulong, Palimbang. Others remained
unidentified.
Aside from ISIS flags and
firearms, government forces also recovered solar panel used by the group for
electricity and bloodied ATM cards.
Tan said Commander Tokboy was a former member of 105th base
command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to form his own group in
Palimbang, a coastal town of Sultan Kudarat and
is 100 kilometers south of Cotabato
City
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=831903
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