NINE suspected members of local terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group were arrested during a joint law enforcement operation in Lanao del Sur on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said.

Eleazar said the nine men engaged policemen in a firefight in Barangay Paigoway in Pagawayan town.

Arrested were Camaroden Tindug, Sabdullah Sarip, Oter Macaungun, Asnare Alisood, Alisood Dima, Sowaib Abdullah, Saaduden Adapun, Zaenal Abdulatip and Aleem Salih Pitiilan. Two others identified as Abu Dimam and Abu Khalifa escaped.

Eleazar said police were in the area to serve an arrest warrant for murder and attempted murder against Faharudin H. Satar, allegedly a sub-leader of the terrorist group.

Confiscated during the operation were various high-powered firearms and “subversive” documents.

"We will file appropriate criminal charges against these armed suspects,” Eleazar said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)