SIX Daesh-inspired Dawlah Islamiyah terrorists, including a mid-level leader, were killed, while two policemen were injured in a law enforcement operation in South Cotabato, military officials said Friday, November 13.
Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the shootout took place during a law enforcement operation around 5 a.m. Friday, November 13, in Purok 6 Koronadal Proper village, Polomolok, South Cotabato.
Vinluan said the shootout ensued after Arafat Bulacon, a Dawlah Islamiyah mid-level commander, resisted the joint team of Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and 5th Special Forces Battalion troops who were about to serve a warrant for his arrest.
Vinluan said Bulacon has a standing warrant of arrest for murder.
The identities of the slain followers of Bulacon were not immediately known, while the identities of the two wounded PNP-SAF were withheld.
Lieutenant Colonel Randy Banaag, commander of the 5th Special Forces Battalion, said the troops recovered from the shootout site one M4 rifle, two 12-gauge shotgun, two calibers .38 revolvers, one 5.56-mm pistol, one Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and one ISIS flag.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Roy Calido, 601st Infantry Brigade commander, said that Bulacon is a remnant of the Ansar Khalifa, also referred to as Ansar al-Khilafah, a Philippine-based militant group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
“He was one of the perpetrators of the General Santos City bombing last 2018 and he was also involved in different criminal activities in the area of South Cotabato,” Galido added.
Major General Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Central commander, said the unit endeavors to continuously conduct law enforcement support operations to assist the police and other law enforcement agencies in expediting the arrest of notorious terrorists and lawless elements in central Mindanao.
“I would like to commend our intelligence operatives, the local leaders, and the communities for their continued support and for consistently reporting the whereabouts of the lawless elements to the competent authorities,” Uy added. (SunStar Zamboanga)