KORONADAL CITY –– Government security forces killed in South Cotabato town a suspected member of pro-Islamic militant tasked to monitor troop movement in Mindanao, police said Monday.
Lt. Col. Alex Joe Orcajada, Polomolok town police chief, said Mohalidin Marot, reported to be a spotter for Dawlah Islamiyah, was killed while resisting arrest as combined forces of South Cotabato police’s Mobile Force Battalion and the Army’s 10th Special Forces Company’s intelligence raided his hideout in Lumakil village in a buy-bust operation over the weekend.
“Marot opened fire on our troops,” said Orcajada, “He was tasked to monitor our movements and those of other friendly forces within Polomolok.”
The police recovered a handgun and sachets of shabu (crystal meth) from the suspect’s hideout.
Orcajada said Marot worked for the Dawlah Islamiyah, translated as Islamic State (IS), operating in Mindanao. DI members are known to work with militants belonging to the Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines, another militant group whose members are wanted for a string of attacks in Mindanao.
Its leader, Mohammad Jaafar Maguid (alias Commander Tokboy), was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kiamba, Sarangani, in January 2017.