THE Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) lauded the joint effort of law enforcement agencies and the local communities in General Santos City, which led to the death of an alleged bomb-making expert in a shootout with police last July 16.
Eastmincom commander Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. issued the statement following the death of Najib Calimba Pundong, alias Najib Hussein, reportedly an expert in making improvised explosive devices (IED) under the Maute Group.
Pundong was killed in an Inter-Agency Law Enforcement Operation in Barangay Fatima, General Santos City at around 2:30 a.m. on July 16.
Read: Alleged Maute bomb maker killed in raid (https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1753084/Manila/Alleged-Maute-bomb-maker-killed-in-raid)
"This joint effort of the local communities and our law enforcers manifest that terrorism will not prosper if we put our acts together. We call on the continuous participation of the communities and other local government units/agencies to prevent violent extremism in our midst," Madrigal said.
Eastmincom spokesperson Major Ezra Balagtey said a policeman was wounded when the suspect traded gunshots with the policemen who were about to serve an arrest warrant issued by the court in Lanao del Sur.
Pundong was charged with serious illegal detention and kidnapping before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Lanao del Sur.
He also had a standing warrant for violation of the Republic Act No. 9516 (Illegal possession of blasting cap/incendiary device) at her safe house in Barangay Apopong in General Santos City.
In a report made by the Joint Task Force in General Santos (JTF-Gensan) commander Colonel Adonis Bajao, Balagtey said, the authorities were supposed to arrest Pundong when the latter resisted and shot one of the law enforcers.
The wounded policeman was brought to a hospital in General Santos City, while one Nafisa Pundong, the wife of fugitive Abu Dar, who escaped from Marawi City Jail last 2016, was arrested in a follow-up operation in the area.
Five other persons were also arrested and were charged for violation of the Presidential Decree 1829 or Obstruction of Justice, after they prevented the arrest of Nafisa Pundog.
Police identified the four as Nafah Pundug Macaraya, Famida Amer Macasindel, Naica Amina Calimba Pundug, Sittie Nashibah Calimba Pundug and Saramina Calimba Pundug.
Also nabbed was Mohamad Naif Pundug, brother of Najib, for illegal possession of explosives (hand grenade) after he was found carrying one fragmentation hand grenade. Balagtey said the six suspects are currently undergoing medical examination, and will be brought back to the General Santos City Police Office.