Military links Dawlah Islamiyah to Tacurong, Koronadal blasts

From Rappler (May 26, 2022): Military links Dawlah Islamiyah to Tacurong, Koronadal blasts (By ROMMEL REBOLLIDO)

Brigadier General Eduardo Gubat, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, says the two explosions were Dawlah Islamiya's response of the to recent military offensives in Maguindanao province

The military has linked the Dawlah Islamiya to explosions in Tacurong and Koronadal cities on Thursday, May 26.

Brigadier General Eduardo Gubat, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Joint Task Force Central, said the two explosions were Dawlah Islamiya’s response to the recent military offensives in Maguindanao province.

Two nearly simultaneous explosions rocked Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat and Koronadal in South Cotabato around noon on Thursday

The two cities are about 35 kilometers apart.

Police said a bomb went off at the rear of a moving bus in Koronadal City, hurting tricycle driver Wilfredo Iligan Tino who was behind it.

Another explosion near an eatery in Purok Paraiso, Barangay New Carmen in Tacurong City, injured no one but startled residents.

For days now, the military has been pounding with artillery and air strikes identified lairs of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Turaife Group in Sitio Patawali, Barangay Ganta, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

“We received reports that the leader of the group was seriously wounded,” Gubat said.

He referred to Abu Turaife, leader of a Dawlah Islamiyah faction who, according to the military, was wounded along with 17 other militants.

The military offensives also killed two members of a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) identified as Abdul Patir and Sadam Salandang, saìd Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Banaag, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Battalion.

He said the remains of the slain BIFF members were turned over to local officials in Datu Salibo for burial.

https://www.rappler.com/nation/military-links-dawlah-islamiyah-to-tacurong-koronadal-blasts/