Military, police, MILF join forces in hunting down North Cotabato's most wanted man

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 8): Military, police, MILF join forces in hunting down North Cotabato's most wanted man

The world of North Cotabato's most wanted man is getting smaller by the day as government forces and Moro rebels have joined hands in hunting him down, an Army general said Friday.

Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said the military, police and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are jointly pursuing Moks Masgal alias Commander Magbrox, a big time illegal drug pusher in North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

During the joint operation Thursday, Mabrox managed to escape but two of his men, his personal driver and a relative, were arrested.

Chief Inspector Reylan Mamon, Midsayap town police chief, identified the arrested close-in bodyguards of Mabrox as Salahudin Halil Lumilis, 26 and Kamarudin Madidis Masdal, his relative.

Both are now detained at Midsayap town police chief.

Mabrox was the subject of an arrest warrant in August but the serving of warrants turned bloody when the armed group engaged arresting team in a four hour firefight which led to the death of three government forces.

Galvez said the help of the MILF will increase the chances of getting Mabrox who is also facing various charges ranging from kidnapping, bombing, robbery and extortion.

"It is better for him to surrender to avoid bloody confrontation," Galvez said of Mabrox, a former leader of the MILF, who bolted the organization and engaged in illegal activities in the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

His group was blamed for extortion activities against farmers in the boundary of Midsayap and Aleosan towns in North Cotabato and in Datu Piang and Datu Salibo in Maguindanao.

Lt. Col. Noly Samarita, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, said involved in the operation are members of the 7th Infantry Battalion and 108th base command of the MILF.

Government forces are combing the North Cotabato side of Mabroxes area of operation while the MILF is operating in the side of the Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao.

While the Army is ready to use its might against Mabrox, Galvez is also exploring other means to avoid bloodshed, that is, diplomatic approach to the problem.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=929346