ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Philippines — Three gunmen suspected to be members of the extremist terror group Dawlah Islamiya were killed while seven others were arrested and a policeman was injured during a predawn law enforcement operation in the town of Bubong in Lanao del Sur province on Sunday, police said.
Operatives from various police units in Lanao del Sur were going to serve a search warrant against suspected members of the extremist Moro group for violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives when they engaged the law enforcers in a firefight, according to Police Brig. Gen. Allan Cruz Nobleza, newly installed regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police.
The lawmen approached the safe house of the group, also believed to be gunrunners and drug traffickers, in Barangay Matampay Dimarao of Bubong town at 2 a.m. on Sunday when they were fired upon, triggering a gun battle.
Nobleza said the suspects belonged to Dawlah Islamiya terrorist group operating in Lanao del Sur.
The injured suspects were rushed to the hospital but were declared dead by physicians. They were identified as Bashir Macarangat, Sowaib Macarangat, and Abdulatip Ripag. Relatives claimed their remains for immediate burial, Nobleza said.
A Special Action Force trooper identified as Police Cpl. Celso Ninla Tingcang was wounded during the 25-minute firefight. He was also rushed to Amai Pakpak Hospital in Marawi City and was already in stable condition.
Nobleza identified the arrested suspects as Sultan Macalawan Macarambon Maulana, alias Maulana Macarambon; and Nasrudin Acob, Salik Maulana, Anwar Aragon, Acmali Sarip, Aslani Ripag, and Saynolla Tigunogon.
Police seized four rifles, two handguns, a rifle grenade, ammunition, and 25 pieces of sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) estimated to cost P58,000.