6 Daesh-linked terrorists killed in encounter

From the Gulf Today (Sep 20): 6 Daesh-linked terrorists killed in encounter

Six Daesh-linked terrorists, described as “rogue” rebels, were killed in an encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Maguindanao province in restive Mindanao, police reported on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodoro Sindac, the police chief of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), added that two MILF members were also slain in the clash on Sunday in the town of Salibo, Maguindanao.

The six slain militants, Sindac said, belonged to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group of the MILF that has pledged allegiance to the Daesh extremists in the Middle East.

According to Sindac, the terrorists were members of a faction of the BIFF, headed by by Esmael Abdumalik, who has been engaging the MILF in a series of encounters in several villages in Salibo town since Aug.1.

The MILF leadership has repeatedly tried but failed to convince Abdulmalik to renounce his allegiance to Daesh to help bring peace to troubled Mindanao which is under martial law as declared by President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte.

Duterte imposed martial law on May 23 following the siege on Marawi City, now entering its fourth month, laid by the Maute Group and the Abu Sayyaf terrorists also linked to the Daesh.

Since heavy fighting between the two sides started, at least 25 militants and 18 MILF members have already been killed, Sindac said.

He explained the MILF has joined the government in its anti-terroism campaign in Mindanao following its signing with an agreement with the government aimed at helping bring just and lasting peace to Mindanao.

In particular, Sindac explained that under the agreement, the MILF is to help government security forces to maintain peace and order in “flashpoint” areas where there are MILF forces.

The military said the BIFF was founded by the late veteran MILF field commander Ameril Umbra Kato who seceded with about 1,500 of his armed followers following policy differences with the front leaders over the conduct of their peace negotiations with the government.

Since then, the military said the BIFF has broken into several factions which, however, remained loyal to the Daesh extremists and continued to oppose the MILF peace agreement with the government.

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