Four teenagers who are suspected members of the militant group Daulah Islamiyah (DI) have been apprehended by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Marugong, Lanao del Sur, the military revealed on Saturday, May 27.
(Courtesy of Western Mindanao Command, AFP)
Maj. Andrew Linao, chief of Western Mindanao Command’s (WesMinCom) public information office, identified the militants as Abu Rasas, 18; a certain Saidi, 18; and two minors aged 16 and 14.
A military report from the WesMinCom said a group of armed individuals were monitored by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Brgy. Pabrika last Thursday, May 25.
The MILF under the command of Esmail Coasin alias Kumander Delta immediately informed the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan (Zamboanga Peninsula-Lanao) led by Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete about the sighting so a platoon of soldiers and five MILF members were deployed to verify the report.
However, the teenagers saw the JTF ZamPeLan and MILF as they were approaching. The teenagers ran in different directions, prompting the soldiers and MILF to conduct a hasty raid which resulted in the arrest of the four of them, the report said.
Linao noted that Rasas is “one of the key leaders” of DI in Lanao del Sur under the command of Fajarudin Pumbaya Pangalian alias Abu Zacariah, the amir of DI-Philippines.
Meanwhile, Saidi is the alleged brother of DI-Lanao subleader Abu Sham, Linao added.
“Accordingly, they were waiting for supplies and food stuff coming from their supporters in the said area,” Linao said.
The WesMinCom said that the operation yielded an M14 rifle, an M16A1 rifle, an R4 rifle, an M203 grenade launcher, a 7.62mm Springfield rifle, five improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and various ammunition and magazines.