Security forces foil terror plot in Maguindanao

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 16, 2019): Security forces foil terror plot in Maguindanao

Combined elements of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police foiled the attempt to bomb urban centers in Sultan Kudarat after seizing “Anti-Personnel Mines” and triggering devices at Damakling village in Paglat, Maguindanao at around 5:00 in the morning on Saturday, January 12.

The 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion led by Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, commanding officer of said unit orchestrated the counter-terrorist operations after learning about the presence of bombs in a remote village of Pagalad.

“Our informant showed us the pictures of terrorist bombers Ustadz Yasser Saligan and his cohort, Sheik Makakena a.k.a. Abu Jihad as they detonated a bomb to test its lethality. We had been tracking the suspects since November 2018,” said Lt. Col. Cabunoc.

Under the cover of darkness, the combined elements of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Special Action Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-ARMM and Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, swooped down on the known terrorist lair at around 3:00 in the morning.

The raiding teams collared five persons who were caught off-guard by the presence of heavily armed soldiers and SAF commandos. The troops seized four "Anti-Personnel Mines" and three cal .45 M1911AI pistol from the suspects.

Two of the primary suspects, Abu Jihad and Ustadz Yasser, eluded arrest by jumping into the murky water of the Liguasan Marsh upon sensing the presence of government troops.

Military pressure
At around 10:00 in the morning, the same raiding teams proceeded to Makainis village, General Salipada K. Pendatun town to receive five Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members who voluntarily surrendered to the government.

The surrenderers belong to the BIFF faction led by Commander Mayogantong Bansil, a notorious rebel who had been involved in several atrocities against government troops and the civilian population.

Accordingly, Commander Mayogantong sent surrender feelers after knowing the presence of security forces in the adjacent town of Paglat some five kilometers away.

Mayogantong contacted Cabunoc to confirm his willingness to lay down his arms.

"I am afraid that the AFP will launch offensives against our group,” Mayogantong stated.

He and his men surrendered four high powered firearms including a cal. 50 sniper rifle, two M1 garand rifles, and a 40mm M79 grenade launcher.

The surrendered weapons will be presented to Brigadier General Robert Dauz, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, the unit that has operational control over the 33rd Infantry Battalion.

Brigadier General Dauz has commended the operating troops for the latest feat in the campaign against terrorism and violent extremism.

“You have shown the expertise in handling the security threats without incurring casualties. Share these best practices in the conduct of operations to all army units in Central Mindanao,” said Brigadier General Dauz, who earned his first star last week.

Meanwhile, Major General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said that the BIFF terrorists have nowhere to hide.

“We have won the support of the people in Central Mindanao. The people themselves have voluntarily provided information about the hiding places of the terrorists,” said Major General Sobejana.

The 33rd Infantry Battalion has facilitated the surrender of various threat groups both in Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat through the effective employment of combat operations, community engagements, and civil affairs activities.

Since February 2017, the unit has successfully facilitated the surrender of 203 communist rebels and 32 BIFF members, setting a benchmark in the conduct of military operations in a ‘two front war’ against distinct threat groups. (DPAO-6ID)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1017185