3 terror group suspects nabbed in South Cotabato – police

In this March 2016 file photo, a soldier of the Philippine Marines helps secure an area of a camp government troops captured from armed groups that have expressed alliance with ISIS in Sultan Kudarat province. JEOFFREY MAITEM/ INQUIRER MINDANAO

KORONADAL CITY – Three suspected Ansar al-Khilafa Philippines (AKP) members, a local terror group that authorities said was sympathetic to the Islamic State, had been arrested in Polomolok, South Cotabato, authorities said Wednesday.

Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., the Central Mindanao police spokesperson, said joint police units conducted a raid in a village in Polomolok town on Tuesday and arrested Abdullah Nilong, his brother Zaidon, and Rebskie Dumat.

Galgo said Abdullah, alias Ali, was once a village chief who was believed to have assumed the leadership of the AKP in the region, following the killing by government forces on January 5 of the group’s leader, Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, alias “Commander Tokboy.” Maguid was killed while three of his companions were arrested during a brief shootout inside a resort in Kiamba, Sarangani.

Galgo said armed with 21 search warrants for illegal possession of firearms and violation of the anti-illegal drugs law, the police team led by Supt. Maximo Sebastian Jr., the chief of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group, swooped on an AKP safehouse in Barangay Lapu.

Abdullah also faces kidnapping charges, according to Sebastian who did not specify the case the suspect was involved in.

“Seven other companions of the suspects managed to escape during the raid,” Sebastian said.

Seized from the suspects and inside the safe house were prohibited drugs, firearms and ammunition for various calibers, and explosives.

The three suspects have been temporarily held at the Polomolok police detention cell and were being placed under close watch, Galgo said.  SFM