Police arrest 3 in raid vs IS-inspired terror group

KORONADAL CITY—Three suspected members of Ansar al-Khilafa Philippines (AKP), a local terror group that authorities said was sympathetic to the Islamic State (IS), were arrested by the police in Polomolok town in South Cotabato province on Tuesday, authorities said on Wednesday.

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

 New leader

Galgo said Abdullah, a former village chief, was believed to have assumed the leadership of AKP in the region, following the death of the group’s leader, Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, alias “Commander Tokboy,” in a shootout with government troops in a resort in Kiamba town in Sarangani province on Jan. 5.

Galgo said a police team, armed with 21 search warrants for illegal possession of firearms and violation of the anti-illegal drugs law, raided a suspected AKP safehouse in Barangay Lapu.

Seized from the suspects were an undetermined amount of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride), assorted firearms, bullets and explosives.

Seven others escaped during the raid, Sebastian said. —EDWIN FERNANDEZ AND JEOFFREY MAITEM