Philippines
National
Why AFP thinks Maguindanao del Sur ambush is a retaliation by Dawlah Islamiyah
Why AFP thinks Maguindanao del Sur ambush is a retaliation by Dawlah Islamiyah
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday, March 19, that it was considering the fatal ambush on Philippine Army (PA) personnel in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend as a form of retaliation by the militant group Dawlah Islamiyah (DI).
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said a series of encounters had occurred between the military and DI fighters since late last year following the bomb attack at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City on Dec. 3, 2023.
“This is believed to be the DI’s [retaliation]. They are seen to [be] losing support from the community because of the continuous operations of the military in the area since last year,” Padilla said in an interview over ANC.
Last Sunday, March 17, around 10 to 20 suspected DI-Hassan fighters ambushed military personnel who were on their way back to patrol base after buying food and other supplies for “iftar” in Barangay Tuayan 1, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur. Four members of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) got killed in the incident.
“There is actually a series of encounters that already occurred since last year so the military has already had it since previously. This is a retaliatory for that,” she reiterated.
The MSU bombing, which claimed the lives of four people and injured 50 others, was blamed on the DI-Maute Group so the military launched pursuit operations to capture the ones believed responsible for the incident.
On Jan. 25 to 26, the AFP launched counter-terrorism operations in Piagapo, Lanao del Sur where nine DI fighters died. The following month, the AFP announced that one of the fatalities was Khadafi Mimbesa alias "Engineer," the pinpointed brains behind the bombing at MSU.
On Feb. 18, another encounter occurred between the military and DI fighters in Munai, Lanao del Norte where six soldiers and three militants died.
“They are believed to be dwindling already and as we have said, they are already having a leadership vacuum as well that’s why they are already operating in very small groups. But you know, the army is still circling the area because they are believed to be regrouping their small cells,” Padilla revealed.
“What we are foreseeing is that these small groups will join each other so that they will have more numbers. But of course, within our operations, we are making sure that this does not happen so we are trying to actually do our pursuit operations to encircle the areas where they are found to be operating upon. This is what we want to prevent: for them to have the means to regroup,” the military spokesperson noted.
Padilla confirmed that the DI was trying to recruit new members although the group was finding it hard to accomplish.
“It’s difficult for them to recruit and they can no longer big support that’s why they resort to retaliation at this point. They already have a leadership vacuum, their members are scattered, and their forces are already dwindling. We will continue with our relentless operations to eradicate this group,” she said.
A birthday and a wake
Meanwhile, AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. visited the wake of the four slain soldiers in the most recent ambush on Monday, March 18, which coincided with his 56th birthday.
The wake for Private Marvin Dumaguing, Private Jessie James Corpuz, Private First Class Carl Araña, and Corporal Creszaldy Espartero was held at the headquarters of 6ID at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
Brawner earlier directed the ground commanders to hunt down the perpetrators behind the ambush in Datu Hoffer Ampatuan.
Vice President Sara Duterte also dropped by at the wake of the soldiers at Camp Siongco where she was welcomed by the grieving families of the troopers, as well as Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) commander, Lt. Gen. William N. Gonzales; and 6ID commander, Major General Alex S. Rillera.