By Bonita Ermac
ILIGAN CITY – A group of 40 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were arrested for illegal possession of firearms and explosives in Barangay Tikalaan, Talakag town in Bukidnon last February 24.
According to Talakag Municipal Police Station Chief Captain Dominador V. Orate, the group belonged to the MILF 118 Von Basher Unit, which is under Abdulbasser Sulaiman Tahir, Base Commander.
They were arrested in relation to a Simultaneous Aggressive Police Operation (SAPO) jointly conducted by Talakag and Baungon police Monday afternoon.
The alleged MILF members who were arrested were identified as Mohalidin Ansid, Walid Salaman, Oman Natian, Norodin Pasandalan, Bonie T. Zalacia, Pairudin Kalantungan, Esmael S. Bro, Limbol S. Kutungan, Gens Abdull, Abusama Dalican, Aladin Ali Laoid, Bong Ampuan, Ebrahim S Salud, Omar U. Benjamin, Ansari M Karim, Nos S. Abdullah, Kens M. Ali, Mohaimin A. Usman, Guimalodin A.Kauti, Tatokan B. Munting, Dari A. Guiamalos, Benjamin S. Salim, Datu Ali S. Samar, Sarad S. Sawal, Morsid S. Tanto, Waltu T. Abdullah, Abusalik Parsan y Bakindong, Udjag Sindatoky Kenjag, Sukarno Linandang y Endato, Abdul Kadil y Mangolawas, Akmad Kapiya y Guliket, Salik Mama Abdullah, Macadatu Kedtingan Rekiman, Akob Talib Nasa, Andang Nasrulah Ayob, Datukali S. Masukat y Samad, Edbrahim Nabantong y Tambol, Training Director and Samana Pasandalan y Ramidon, all of legal ages and a resident of same place Nunangan, Datu Angal, Midtimbang, Maguindanao.
The group was on board a truck that was being driven by Abdullah Ladsuman Sangkay, 56, and a resident of Linamonan, Talayan, Maguindanao.
The group was believed to be on its way to Camp Madaya Basak in Talakag, Bukidnon to reinforce a Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) group which was involved in an encounter last February 21.
Confiscated from the group were an M-14 rifle, a grenade, a bandolier with ammunition for M14 rifle, a handheld radio, six magazines for an M-14 rifle, 50 bullets, and assorted identification cards.