BIFF subleader, comrade killed in North Cotabato

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – A leader of an Islamic State-linked Moro armed group and his subordinate were killed during law enforcement operations in a remote village of this town on Black Saturday, April 20, police said.

Brig. Gen. Eliseo Tam Rasco, director for the Soccsksargen Police Regional Office, said the two rebels were killed when they traded shots with joint police and military forces in Sitio Macantal, Barangay Olandang, Midsayap, North Cotabato at 5:10 a.m. on Saturday.

“The firefight lasted for about 30 minutes that killed a certain Commander DM and Norhamin Sabdulla, both of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF),” Rasco told the INQUIRER by phone Saturday.

Rasco said the police were backed by soldiers from 34th Infantry Battalion in serving a search warrant against Mando Mamalumpong, the real name of Commander DM, for multiple murder and frustrated murder charges.

Mamalumpong, a subleader of the IS-linked BIFF operating in Midsayap, North Cotabato and Datu Piang in Maguindanao, resisted arrest by firing at approaching lawmen, triggering a firefight, added Rasco.

Rasco said an M-16 rifle and an M-14 rifle with magazines and ammunition were found at the scene of the firefight.

Relatives claimed the remains of Mamalumpong and Sabdulla for immediate burial in accordance to Islamic rites, Rosco said.

“The police and other law enforcement units will continue to enforce the law anytime and anywhere to ensure the safety of the local populace,” Rasco said.

/atm