2 terror suspects killed in Davao del Sur

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – Two suspected Dawlah Islamiya members were killed in a joint police and military operation in Hagonoy town in Davao del Sur late Sunday.

Senior Supt. Ferlu Silvio, Provincial Police Office director, said on Monday that policemen from various units, including the Regional Intelligence Unit, and military intelligence agents conducted a simultaneous serving of search warrants in Barangay Aplaya, Hagonoy against two Dawlah Islamiya members at around 11:20 p.m.

Silvio said both suspects, siblings Norhan and Norton Sinapan, refused to cooperate and fired at the operating troops.

He said Norhan was instantly killed while Norton, the suspected leader of Dawlah Islamiya's sleeper cell in the province, died while being rushed to a hospital.

"It was a court-backed operation," Silvio said.

He said recovered from the suspects were a handgun, two grenades, an improvised explosive device component, several personal belongings and two black flags similar to the one being used by the Islamic State.

Silvio said Dawlah Islamiya is not an ISIS affiliate although it had pledged allegiance to the terror group.

Silvio said Dawlah had planned to set off bombs in several key cities in central and southern Mindanao regions.