SEEKING SAFETY | A man in Marogong, Lanao del Sur, loads his family’s belongings into a vehicle on Saturday morning, May 27, 2023, as residents flee their villages because of a threat from local terrorists. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Philippines — Hundreds of families from several villages of Marogong town in Lanao del Sur province fled their homes starting on Friday night after an alleged threat of violence by local Islamic State-linked militants.
The warning from the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) terror group, issued by its leader, Commander Zacariah, was heard over a privately operated two-way radio network, said Police Col. Robert Daculan, Lanao del Sur police director, on Saturday.
The radio network is run by UHF radio owners in the locality, who use the system for emergency responses. Anyone with a radio can hook into the network.
Commander Zacariah, the alias of Fajarudin Pumbaya Pangalian, is the acknowledged amir or leader of DI militants in the country.
The arrest
The warning circulated on social media on Friday. It came as four DI gunmen from Lanao del Sur, two of whom were minors age 16 and 14 years old, were arrested by members of the government-allied Moro Islamic Liberation Front, upon orders of a certain Commander Delta, and had them turned over to the Philippine Army.
Assault rifles and ammunition were also taken from the DI gunmen who were under the command of a certain Juhari Sandab alias Abu Moraid.
The Army identified those arrested as Muhammad Nasif alias Abu Rasas, 18, the designated media spokesperson of the group; Saudi Macadaag, 18, brother of DI-Lanao subleader Ustadz Allanduni Macadaya Luksadatu or Abu Sham; and the two male minors.
As of 8 p.m. on Saturday, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office counted 259 families who fled from their homes and temporarily settled in the towns of Binidayan (206), Balabagan (45) and Madamba (8).
Police and Army troops had been deployed in Marogong to prevent a possible attack by DI militants.
Lt. Col. Edward Viteño, commander of the Army’s 32nd Infantry Battalion, on Sunday assured that government forces were ready to protect the civilians.
Clearing operations
On Friday, four DI fighters were also killed in a clash with Army troopers while the soldiers were on foot patrol in the hinterland villages of Piangologan and Pabrika in Marogong.
During clearing operations, the soldiers recovered a 7.62mm M14 rifle, a 5.56mm M16A1 rifle, a 5.56mm R4 rifle, a 40mm M203 grenade launcher with a defaced serial number, a 7.62mm Springfield rifle, five improvised bombs, five 40mm grenade launchers, assorted ammunitions, assorted magazines and personal belongings.
“Dawlah Islamiyah in our area of responsibility is currently diminishing. Likewise, we shall maintain our efforts to defeat them as quickly as possible,” said Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, on Sunday.