CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao—The military has announced the arrest, with the help of civilians, of two of several terror suspects who briefly occupied the public market of Datu Paglas town, Maguindanao province on Saturday (May 8) before they were driven away by soldiers.
Brig. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, said suspects Jerwali Salem Zabel and Nasrullah Abdullah Walingan were at the outskirt of Datu Paglas on Monday, two days after several armed men belonging to the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) took control of the market for several hours.
Galido said the two were held by residents of communities near the 108th baee command of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) near the village of Mangadeg in Datu Paglas.
“The suspects admitted they were supposed to deliver food to their companions who are being hunted by government forces,” Galido said in a statement on Tuesday (May 11).
Seized from the terror suspects were two improvised explosive devices and one caliber 45 pistol.
On Saturday, government forces intercepted and clashed with at least 60 BIFF members led by Sulayman Tudon of the BIFF Kagi Karialan faction.
Clashes erupted but no casualties were reported on both sides.
The military said the BIFF fled the “SPMS Box”—an area composed of the towns of Sharrif Aguak, Datu Salibu, Mamasapano and Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao—due to relentless military operations in past weeks.
Galido said the Army successfully drove the armed men out of the populated center before noon on Saturday but the terror group managed to leave four improvised bombs at the town center.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander, commander of Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry (Kampilan), lauded government forces and civilian communities for the arrest of the terror suspects..
“Attaining peace and security in our communities is a shared responsibility between security forces and of the civilians,” said Uy.
Galido also announced that the 601st Brigade had taken possession of two M-16 assault rifles and explosives left by BIFF in the market as they fled on Saturday.
The two suspects, along with the firearm and explosives, were turned over by the civilian residents and the MILF ceasefire committee to the military.
TSB