Two alleged Islamic State (IS)-linked terrorists were killed by Philippine Army (PA) forces in a military operation in Polomolok, South Cotabato on Monday, Jan. 31.
Major General Juvymax Uy, commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Central and 6th Infantry Division (6ID), identified the slain suspects as Zypol Nilong and Salahudin Usman, both alleged members of the Daulah Islamiyah (DI) terror group.
The alleged terrorists were operating under the command of a certain Zaiden Jade Nilong alias "Aliboy" from the DI-Maguid Group.
According to a military report reaching Camp Aguinaldo, operatives of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion encountered the DI-Maguid Group in Brgy. Lapu.
Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, 6ID spokesperson, said the DI-Maguid Group were planning to retaliate to the military following the death of DI "emir" (commander) Salahuddin Hassan in an encounter in Talayan, Maguindanao on Oct. 29, 2021.
"Following the death of their emir or commander, four of their members surrendered to us: two in Cotabato and two in Maguindanao. That's where we obtained information as to the wherebouts of their other members," Baldomar told the Manila Bulletin in a phone interview.
The troops carefully planned the mission to raid the hideout of the DI-Maguid Group which was eventually carried out around 10 a.m. Monday.
The troops traded shots with around 12 terrorists in a firefight that lasted for about five minutes and ended in the death of Nilong and Usman.
Baldomar said the troops were able to thwart the planned terror attack of the DI-Maguid Group in South Cotabato.
"We have collected various components of IEDs on the encounter site. Right now, our troops were still pursuing those who escaped. We have alerted out troops for all possible chokepoints and withdrawal routes," Baldomar said.
Also seized from the slain terror suspects were two M16 rifles.
Meanwhile, MGen. Uy continued to call on the remaining members of the DI to surrender to the military.
"As much as possible, we don’t want to take away the lives of these people for they have families as well. Surrender now as the government will help you build and start your lives peacefully," Uy said.