Hunt for bandits continues in SK

ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat (PNA) – Police and military forces are closing in on a group of bandits, former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in the village of Bual here as the hunt for Sultan Dimas, alias “Commander Dragon,” is intensified.

The pursuit operation entered its third day in Sitio Mantisao, Barangay Bual, Sr. Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat police provincial director said on Saturday.

Supiter said 11 bandits have been killed in the operation conducted jointly by Sultan Kudarat police provicial public safety battalion and 33rd Infantry Battalion against "Commander Dragon", who is leader of a 30-man strong group of bandits responsible for the series of atrocities in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao.

"The group's location has been pinpointed and the operation is focused in one community," Supiter said.

Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunog, 33rd IB chief, told reporters Dimas' forces were getting reinforcements from other armed groups operating in the hinterlands of Isulan.

Cabunoc said police and the military were to serve warrants against Commander Dragon for murder and multiple murder charges on Thursday when his group opened fire on approaching lawmen, triggering a fierce firefight at 6:00 a.m. The fighting left 11 bandits dead, while the rest fled deep into the forest.

Commander Dragon was a former member of MILF who turned into banditry.

Due to the strength of the armed group, the Army had to fire artillery against the suspects backed by two Air Force helicopter gunships.

One soldier, identified as Sgt. Davides Enario, was wounded in the clash.

Both Supiter and Cabunoc said the bandit group suffered more than 11 fatalities, which were still subject for validation and verification.