SAF troops kill 3 terror suspects in Sarangani

Groups pledging allegiance to ISIS have been sprouting in Mindanao. In this January 23, 2016 file photo, members of an erstwhile unknown group calling itself “Red God Soldiers” burn a replica of an Isis flag on the day they announced their existence somewhere in Central Mindanao. JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

COTABATO CITY — Police killed three suspected local terrorists who had allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) following a brief encounter late Saturday afternoon in Sarangani province.

Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., spokesperson of the police in Central Mindanao, said Sunday that a PNP Special Action Force (SAF) Team was sent to Barangay Daliao, Maasim town, to verify the reported presence of Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, founding chair of Ansar Al-Khalifa Philippines, a group which pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2015.

Galgo said that as troops were approaching the village, they were fired at by Maguid’s followers.

Maguid, also known as “Commander Tokboy,” first established a base in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, more than a year ago. But his group was driven out by the Philippine Marines following a six-hour firefight that left seven of his men killed. ISIS flags, guns and ammunition were recovered in the area.  The Marines captured Maguid’s base and established detachment there.

Galgo said a certain Mustapha Gansing, Maguid’s follower, was arrested immediately after the 5 p.m. firefight in Barangay Daliao on Saturday. A 9mm UZI machine gun was seized from him.

He said a subsequent raid on the house of Kupang Sahak, another Maguid supporter, resulted in the recovery of black ISIS flags and bomb-making components.

Galgo said the raid was carried out with the help of the 27th Infantry Battalion, Regional Public Safety Battalion, and the Maasim municipal police office.

He said the operating troops recovered from the fatalities a carbine rifle, an M-79 grenade launcher, a rifle scope, one black ISIS flag and an empty shell for M-203 rifle grenade.  SFM