CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY –– Agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Northern Mindanao raided on Wednesday, Nov. 25, three houses in a subdivision here, leading to the confiscation of firearms and components for making improvised bombs.
The houses inside the Villa Candida subdivision in Bulua village are believed to be used as havens of local Islamic State affiliates.
In the course of the court-sanctioned raids, authorities discovered and seized calibers .45 and .38 pistols with live ammunition, a grenade, detonating cords, safety fuses, an electric blasting cap with leg wire, about a kilo of ammonium nitrate, and various bags.
But the targets of the raids were able to flee, said Lt. Col. Cholijun Caduyac, CIDG-10 chief.
Caduyac identified their targets as Abdul Rahman Ampang, alias Hodifa, and Abudl Jalil Saruang.
He said Ampang and Saruang are affiliated with the local terrorists operating in Lanao del Sur.
Both were allegedly on missions to bomb military and police installations and other government facilities.
During the raid, police also discovered a black cloth printed with the symbols of the Islamic State.
After scouring the houses for evidence, the police invited three persons for questioning at the CIDG office. They were later released.