Authorities on alert against retaliatory terror attacks in GenSan, South Cotabato
GENERAL SANTOS CITY- Authorities have tightened security here and nearby South Cotabato province after getting intelligence information that the Dawlah Islamiyah local terror group was out to avenge the killing of its local leader and five other followers in a police raid in a village in Polomolok, South Cotabato last November 13.
Polomolok Police Chief Lt. Col. Alex Joe Orcajada said they have received intelligence report that the local terror group was planning to launch attacks in retaliation for the killing of Arafat Bulacao, the alleged sub-leader of the Islamiyah terror group and his five followers.
Bulacao and his men were killed when they shot it out with police and military operatives who stormed their stronghold in Barangay Koronadal Proper, Polomolok South Cotabato last November 13.
Also killed in the two-hour gunfight were Rusdie Sadalao, Norman Marot, Arsag Marot, Manading Marot and Abdubayan Marot.
Two police personnel Cpl Bryan Cabreros and Patrolman Ronald Nipalam of the Philippine National Police PNP)-Special Action Force (SAF) were wounded.
He said the raiding team was about to serve a arrest warrant against Bulacon but the alleged terror group leader and his men fought back.
Bulacon was facing string of criminal charges. including for his involvement in the September 2018 bomb attack in front of a laying-in clinic in Bararangay Apopong here, which wounded eight people.
The group was also tagged for the ambush-slay of two policemen in Barangay Koronadal Proper, Polomok last April 31, and the killing of P/Capt. Herman Gabat, Polomolok deputy police chief, in 2017.
Authorities said the suspects were also involved in carnapping, gun-for-hire and illegal drug trade as sources of their mobilization funds.
Orcajada ordered the strengthening of intelligence monitoring and conduct of mobile patrol and checkpoints to thwart any possible terror attack.
He said police and military authorities were closely monitoring the reported retaliatory attacks from the terror group