6 alleged Islamic State followers slain in South Cotabato clash

KORONADAL CITY –– Six alleged members of an Islamic State-inspired local terror group were killed in an encounter with government troops early Friday morning in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Col. Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police chief, said two policemen were also wounded in the encounter in Barangay Koronadal Proper in Polomolok town against members of the Dawlah Islamiya – Maguid Group, an affiliate of the Islamic State-aligned Ansar Al-Khilafa Philippines.

Siason said the firefight erupted at 5 a.m. after the suspects resisted the troops serving the warrant of arrest against Arafat Bulacon, a Dawlah Islamiyah member.

Bulacon and his brother Mommamad were suspects in the killing of Police Officer 1 Achilles Tablazon in Tupi town, also in South Cotabato in September.

In a text message, Siason identified one of the dead suspects as Jayton Sadalao.

Siason said the suspects were heavily-armed and that they were involved in illegal drugs, gun-running, and bombing activities in the region.

The gunfire disrupted the flow of traffic in the interior village for at least four hours.

Several families also fled to safer places to avoid getting caught in the crossfire.

The operating team included the South Cotabato police command, the Polomolok municipal station, the 4th Special Action Battalion, the South Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Command, and the Army’s 5th Special Forces Battalion.

LZB