Terror suspect eludes arrest; 13 followers nabbed in Maguindanao

Thirteen followers of a suspected terrorist were arrested by government forces on Monday.  (CIDG-BARMM)

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao del Norte – A suspected terrorist eluded arrest a law enforcement operation on Monday afternoon in Barangay Macaguiling here, but 13 of his followers were arrested.

Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Huesca, regional director for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in the Bangsamoro region, told the Inquirer that Musa Ali Alamada, also known as “Commander Paradise,” said to be a local leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), evaded authorities after allegedly using a child as a human shield.

“We presumed that he also released the captive after he ran away, but from afar, we cannot determine if the child is a male or female or how old,” Huesca said.

CIDG operatives, backed by local police, were armed with arrest warrants for Alamada who was listed in the Department of National Defense as among the local terrorist group members with a P1.2 million bounty for his arrest.

He is facing charges of kidnapping, serious illegal detention, and destructive arson filed before different courts since 2008.

But speaking over the radio, Alamada denied he used a child to escape from government forces. He said he fled to prevent bloodshed in his community.

Huesca said seized from Alamada’s followers assault rifles and ammunition.

Huesca said the manhunt against Alamada is ongoing.