SEIZED FIREARMS. The high-powered firearms recovered by a joint Army-police team who fought and killed seven suspected members of the terror group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Sitio Narra, Barangay Tumbras, Midsayap, North Cotabato on Wednesday (Oct. 23, 2019). One of the suspects reportedly killed in their nipa hideout (inset) was Mama Macalimbol, long wanted by law for multiple frustrated murder charges. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)
Joint military and police forces killed seven alleged members of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in a clash in Midsayap, North Cotabato, Wednesday.
Lt. Col. Glenn Cabrera, commander of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, said the encounter occurred around 5:00 a.m. in Sitio Narra, Barangay Tumbras, Midsayap, after locals tipped authorities on the presence of armed men in their community.
“Our troopers, in coordination with the local police, immediately responded to the tip and chanced upon the group at their nipa hideout who put up a fight,” Cabrera said, referring to the 40-minute clash that ensued.
When the group offered no more resistance, government forces, this time backed by helicopter gunships, scoured Sitio Narra and found the remains of the slain suspects.
Initial military reports identified two of the dead as Mama Macalimbol, long wanted for multiple frustrated murder charges, and a certain Bedis Macarimbang.
“Macalimbol was also North Cotabato’s third most wanted man for his role in roadside bombings and highway robberies,” Caballero said.
The five other suspects, all males, remain unidentified as of posting.
He said that Macalimbol's group operated under BIFF commander Bungos, the alleged mastermind behind the series of bombings in Central Mindanao in recent months.
Authorities also recovered from the scene seven firearms comprising two .30-caliber Garand rifles, two M14 rifles, one improvised Barrett sniper rifle, one FAL automatic rifle, one M16 rifle, and homemade explosives.
“The slain suspects seemed to be ready for any eventuality as their nipa hut was surrounded with sandbags,” Cabrera said.
He said military and police probers are still in the process of properly identifying the remaining slain suspects.
The military here has vowed to intensify offensives and law enforcement operations against the BIFF groups operating in the region.
“There is no let-up in the fight against violent extremism so step up intelligence gathering against the extremists,” Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division, directed all military units in Central Mindanao.
The remains of the slain radicals were turned over to officials of Barangay Tumbras for burial.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1084057
Lt. Col. Glenn Cabrera, commander of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion, said the encounter occurred around 5:00 a.m. in Sitio Narra, Barangay Tumbras, Midsayap, after locals tipped authorities on the presence of armed men in their community.
“Our troopers, in coordination with the local police, immediately responded to the tip and chanced upon the group at their nipa hideout who put up a fight,” Cabrera said, referring to the 40-minute clash that ensued.
When the group offered no more resistance, government forces, this time backed by helicopter gunships, scoured Sitio Narra and found the remains of the slain suspects.
Initial military reports identified two of the dead as Mama Macalimbol, long wanted for multiple frustrated murder charges, and a certain Bedis Macarimbang.
“Macalimbol was also North Cotabato’s third most wanted man for his role in roadside bombings and highway robberies,” Caballero said.
The five other suspects, all males, remain unidentified as of posting.
He said that Macalimbol's group operated under BIFF commander Bungos, the alleged mastermind behind the series of bombings in Central Mindanao in recent months.
Authorities also recovered from the scene seven firearms comprising two .30-caliber Garand rifles, two M14 rifles, one improvised Barrett sniper rifle, one FAL automatic rifle, one M16 rifle, and homemade explosives.
“The slain suspects seemed to be ready for any eventuality as their nipa hut was surrounded with sandbags,” Cabrera said.
He said military and police probers are still in the process of properly identifying the remaining slain suspects.
The military here has vowed to intensify offensives and law enforcement operations against the BIFF groups operating in the region.
“There is no let-up in the fight against violent extremism so step up intelligence gathering against the extremists,” Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division, directed all military units in Central Mindanao.
The remains of the slain radicals were turned over to officials of Barangay Tumbras for burial.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1084057
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.