3 terror suspects tied to IS slain in clash

COTABATO CITY—Police killed three suspected local terrorists, who had allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group (IS), following a brief encounter on Saturday afternoon in Sarangani province.

Supt. Romeo Galgo Jr., spokesperson of the Central Mindanao regional police, said a team from the police’s Special Action Force was sent to Barangay Daliao in Maasim town on Saturday to verify the presence of Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, founding chair of Ansar Al-Khilafah Philippines, a group which pledged allegiance to IS last year.

Fatalities

Galgo said Maguid’s followers fired at government troops as they approached the village. The three fatalities, whose bodies had been recovered by government troops, had yet to be identified on Sunday.

Maguid, also known as “Commander Tokboy,” first established a base in Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat province more than a year ago. But his group was driven out by troops from the Philippine Marines following a six-hour firefight that left seven of his men killed. IS flags, guns and bullets were recovered in the area.

The Marines captured Maguid’s base and established detachment there.

Galgo said Mustapha Gansing, Maguid’s follower, was arrested immediately after the 5 p.m. firefight in Barangay Daliao. A 9mm Uzi machine pistol was seized from him.

Recovery of IS flags

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

Galgo said the raid was carried out with the help of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, the police’s Regional Public Safety Battalion, and the Maasim town police.

He said government troops recovered from the fatalities a carbine rifle, an M-79 grenade launcher, a rifle scope, an IS flag and an empty shell for M-203 rifle grenade. Edwin O. Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao