CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– Three members of an Islamic State-linked group, remnants of those who laid siege on Marawi City in 2017, were arrested by soldiers Wednesday, Sept. 18, after a gunfight in Barangay Paridi, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.
Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, identified the armed men as Janla Tangolo, 20, Arapat Tangolo, 22, and Kamarudin Sultan, 20.
Seized from them were two M14 and Bushmaster 5.56 assault rifles, one caliber .38 pistol, magazines, ammunition, and bandoliers.
Brawner said the group of around 30 armed men who belong to the local IS affiliate, was spotted by villagers who, in turn, reported their presence to the military.
“We are glad that after the Marawi siege, we now receive more reports from the communities regarding the presence of enemies or armed groups,” Brawner added./lzb