SEIZED WAR MATERIEL. The war matériel seized from the Dawlah Islamiya extortion group hiding in the marshland of M’lang, North Cotabato, Wednesday (June 1, 2022). A member of the terror group was killed while another was arrested (in photo) during the law enforcement operation. (Photos courtesy of 6ID)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A suspect linked to the series of recent bombings in Central Mindanao was killed while another was arrested during a law enforcement operation in North Cotabato, the military said Thursday.
Killed during the joint military-police operation in M’lang, North Cotabato on Wednesday was Monir Lintukan, while his cohort, Randy Saro, was arrested.
Lt. Col. Rommel Mundala, the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion commander, said the two suspects are members of the Dawlah Islamiya, a faction of the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Col. Jovencio Gonzales, the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, said an operation was immediately launched against the suspects after reports confirmed their presence in Barangay Dungguan, M’lang, North Cotabato.
“A 30-minute firefight ensued before the rest of the terror group withdrew,” Gonzales said in a statement.
Government troops recovered an M16 rifle, 41 rounds of M16 ammunition, and an improvised explosive device at the encounter site.
Citing intelligence information, Gonzales said the suspects were involved in the recent Koronadal Yellow Bus bombing, the Tacurong bombing, the bomb attacks in M’lang and Aleosan towns in North Cotabato.
They have also been linked to the bombing of the Rural Tours Bus in Parang, Maguindanao, recently.
Gonzales said the extortion group is led by Dawlah Islamiya commander Almoben Camen Sebod and Omal Kamsa, a member of the BIFF-Karialan faction.
Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, the Army’s acting 6th Infantry Division commander, vowed to pursue the group "until they will be neutralized." (PNA)
