Bomb plot in CenMin foiled

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 25): Bomb plot in CenMin foiled

Government forces on Monday prevented a bombing plot in several areas in Central Mindanao with the arrest of a Moro rebel leader belonging to ISIS-inspired armed group.

Lt. Col. Gerry Besana of the Army’s 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion, said the arrest of Muslimin Ladtugan, also known as “Commander Mus,” of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), prevented what could be a bombing spree of the lawless group to divert Army offensives in Maguindanao.

Ladtungan is now in police and military custody facing charges of frustrated murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Acting on tips from civilians, the Army and Midsayap police office personnel raided the hideout of Ladtungan in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap at around 8 a.m. Monday.

He did not resist arrest.

Found in his hideout were materials for making improvised explosive devices, an Armalite rifle, an M-14 rifle, a rocket propelled grenade and two .45 caliber pistols.

Besana lauded the vigilant residents in Midsayap who helped the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion to the exact location of Ladtungan’s home base that led to his arrest.

Quoting reports from Army and police intelligence agents, Ladtungan was planning to launch a series of bombings in North Cotabato and adjacent provinces to avenge the deaths of 25 BIFF members during clashes against the Army and its allies, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The MILF’s Task Force Ittihad (Unity) had been fighting a faction of the BIFF that pledged allegiance to the ISIS. The group is headed by jihadist Esmael Abdulmalik alias Abu Toraife who tried to influence MILF communities in the villages of Tee and Andavit in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Abu Toraife was a student of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir whom the police killed in an operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015.

The MILF-BIFF clashes also left 11 MILF killed.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1010713