3 extortion gang men killed in Sarangani

From Malaya Business Insight (Aug 22): 3 extortion gang men killed in Sarangani

THREE members of a local group that has linked itself to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria were killed in a firefight with government forces in Maasim town, Sarangani province Saturday afternoon.

But the leader of the Ansar Khilafah Philippines (AKP), identified as Mohammad Jaafar Sabiwang Maguid alias Tokboy, managed to escape, said Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.

The AKP is blamed for some atrocities in Mindanao, including bombings and extortion.

“This group is trying to affiliate itself with the ISIS but we have not seen any concrete links that they are recognized by the ISIS or they are moving under the direction of the ISIS. They (AKP members) are just trying to ally themselves with the ISIS,” said Valencia.

Valencia said troops from the Army’s 1002nd Brigade and policemen conducted an operation after receiving reports that Maguid was seen in Sitio Lebe, Barangay Daliao visiting his relatives. But Maguid has left when the soldiers arrived at around 5 p.m. Saturday.

They engaged only Maguid’s rear guards, composed of about five to seven men. The main party was composed of about 17 men, purportedly including some foreigners.

“We have some reports that he was with some foreigners but we cannot confirm this immediately,” Valencia said.

Recovered at the clash scene were the bodies of the still unidentified AKP members, a Carbine rifle, an M19 grenade launcher, a rifle scope, an M203 grenade ammunition, and a black flag with the ISIS logo.

The AKP, along with the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, pledged allegiance to the ISIS last year.

Capt. Rhyan Batchar, 10th ID spokesman, said an AKP member identified as Mustapha Gansing was arrested by government troops at around 4:25 a.m. yesterday also in Barangay Daliao.

Batchar said the troops seized from Gansing’s possession an Uzi machine pistol with loaded magazine, and documents that included diagram lectures on improvised explosive device.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/3-extortion-gang-men-killed-sarangani