Police authorities today said there is no solid proof on the
reported presence of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sultan Kudarat.
Supt. Jemuel Siason, Sultan Kudarat police provincial public
safety battalion, said the report purportedly claiming that the armed lawless
elements killed in clash with government forces in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
“was a figment of imagination” of some people.
Siason insisted that Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, alias
“Commander Tokboy” was a leader of a lawless group involved in cattle rustling,
highway robbery and kidnapping in the coastal towns of Sultan Kudarat.
“There was no solid proof that ISIS exists in Sultan Kudarat
although ISIS flags were recovered in the
clash site,” Siason told reporters.
“They used ISIS flags to
show they sympathize with the international terrorist organization,” he added.
Maguid was the leader of Ansar al-Khalifa Philippines , a group which also exists in other
parts of Mindanao which showed sympathy with
the terrorist organization.
“But ISIS existence in
Sultan Kudarat? That is not true. The group was composed of lawless elements
mulcting on farmers and civilians in Palimbang,” he said.
Siason said there is no solid document that would justify
the existence of ISIS in the island
of Mindanao
Earlier, Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr revealed he had
received information about the recruitment activities of ISIS
in the city and nearby provinces. He said three of those killed in the
Palimbang clash were students from Cotabato
City
Eight men, including an Indonesian, were killed when they
clashed with members of the 6th Marine Battalion Landing Team in Sitio
Sinapangan, Barangay Butril, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat a week ago.
Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, 1st Marine Brigade commander,
said the soldiers were assisting the local police in serving the warrants of
arrest for Commander Tokboy.
As the state forces were approaching the village, the group
of Commander Tokboy with about 40 armed members, opened fire, triggering a four
hour running gun battle.Government forces suffered no casualty.
Recovered from the slain armed lawless elements were cal. 50
barret rifle, hand guns, ammunition, shabu paraphernalia and five ISIS flags.
Even another lawless group operating in Maguindanao also
denied the existence of ISIS in Mindanao .
“Far from truth, may be sympathizers only,” said Abu Misry
Mama, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Mama, who admitted they have forces in Palimbang, denied his
group was allied with the group of Commander Tokboy.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=834385
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