New terror group Ansarul Khilafa Philippines recruiting students

From GMA News (Nov 29): New terror group Ansarul Khilafa Philippines recruiting students

The new Mindanao-based terrorist group Ansarul Khilafa Philippines is recruiting students, a military spokesperson has confirmed.

"Nalaman natin na may ongoing recruitment nga," said Capt. Joan Petinglay, spokesperson of the Army's 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central.

Following the encounter between the military and the terror group's members in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat last Thursday, troops recovered several students' identification cards.

Among the most prominent names on the IDs was that of 22-year-old Datu Mongkang "Mongs" Dilangalen, nephew of former Maguindanao representative Didagen "Digs" Dilangalen.

The young Dilangalen was among the eight members of the terror group killed during the encounter.

A report by GMA News' Ian Cruz on Balitanghali on Sunday said that the young Dilangalen's family identified him through the photo of one of the bodies of the slain suspects.

Bai Princess Dilangalen Piang Abdulrakman said in an interview with Cruz that her cousin told his parents that he was leaving for General Santos City last June.

The young Dilangalen returned home last August and talked with his mother over the phone a day before the clash, Bai Princess added.

"She must accept what might happen to him," Bai Princess said quoting the young Dilangalen as saying to his mother over the phone.

Indonesian bomb expert Ibrahim Ali a.k.a. Abdul Fattah, a known apprentice of slain Jemmah Islamiyah operative Julkifli bin Hir a.k.a. Marwan, was also among those killed.

The three other slain members of the group who have been identified by the military were Abdul Hali, Tatuh Sumail and Kira Sabiwang, all residents of Palimbang.

Stop the recruitment

Petinglay said that the military will draw up a plan to stop the ongoing recruitment.

"From here, we will forumlate plans together with the local government units at mga komunidad at sa mga parents ng mga kabataan dito.. ng mga IDs na narecover natin, upang matulungan sila," she said.

"Then para ma-stop din, para mapigilan kung may iba pang recruitment."

Petinglay, meanwhile, said that they have yet to determine if the Ansarul Khilafa Philippines has connections with the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Aside from the students' IDs, the military also recovered IS flags after the the Palimbang encounter.

The military, however, said that the presence of the flags at the site of the encounter do not necessarily mean that the group has links with the IS.

Security analyst Professor Rommel Banlaoi told radio dzBB in an interview on Saturday that Ansarul Khilafa Philippines has ties with the regional group, Malay Archipelago Unit for the Islamic State, which allegedly recruits members for the Islamic State.

The new terror group is led by Mohammad Jaafar Sabiwang Maguid alias Commander Tokboy, who was able to escape during the Palimbang encounter.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/546169/news/regions/new-terror-group-ansarul-khilafa-philippines-recruiting-students