Close watch for Ansar Khilafah members

POLOMOLOK, South CotabatoPolice authorities here are on the lookout for members of the Ansar Khilafah Philippines (AKP) terror group, who are reportedly massing in several villages here to avenge the death of their leader who was killed in an encounter with police operatives last March 6 here.

Chief Insp. Alex Orcajada, Polomolok police chief, said the presence of suspected AKP members have been monitored in Barangays Lapu, Bentung Sulit and Koronadal Proper, which are predominantly Muslim communities.

He said, based on intelligence reports, at least 10 to 20 AKP members have been meeting in these areas with plans to avenge the killing of Benzaid Nilong, a key AKP leader slain in an encounter with policemen in Barangay Pagalungan last March 6.

Nilong and three unidentified cohorts onboard two motorcycles engaged police operatives in a shootout when they were flagged down at a police checkpoint along the national highway in Barangay Pagalungan.

The three other suspects managed to escape during the pursuit police operation.

Police tagged Nilong and his group in a series of criminal activities including robbery, murder, carnapping, illegal drugs and gun-for-hire operations in Polomolok town and adjacent areas.

The suspects were tagged as suspects in the killing of Sr. Insp. Herman Gabat, Polomolok deputy police chief, who was gunned down by unidentified gunmen inside a restaurant in Barangay Poblacion, Polomolok last November 2017.

Nilong’s brothers Nasser and Jazzer surrendered recently to the 27th Infantry Battalion stationed in nearby Tupi town as the police launched intensified campaign against suspected AKP elements here.

The suspects, who also belong to AKP terror group, yielded highpowered firearms including KG9 submachine pistol and carbine rifle.