Dawlah Islamiya sub-leader yields

The military on Thursday announced that an alleged sub-leader of an Islamic militant group surrendered to government forces in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, bringing along several high-powered firearms.

Authorities identified the rebel sub-leader as Khalid Kalaing of the Dawlah Islamiya Maguid group following his surrender at the headquarters of the 7th Infantry Battalion on Wednesday.

The Maguid group — also known as Ansar al Khilafah Philippines — is said to had ties with the Lanao-based Maute group.

According to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, the 57-year-old rebel also surrendered his firearms which include M635 rifle, M16A1 rifle, caliber-.30 M1 carbine, M14 rifle, caliber-.30 M1 Garand rifle, as well as magazines and ammunition of different calibers.

Lt. Col. Romel Valencia, 7th IB commander, attributed Kalaing’s surrender to efforts of security forces with the cooperation of the local officials and the community, which came three weeks after Kopang Sahak alias “Tarzan” — another sub-leader of the Maguid group — was killed in a military operation in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao, on 11 May.

In January this year, four other members of the group were also killed in a police-military raid in T’Boli, South Cotabato.

The Maguid group — also known as Ansar al Khilafah Philippines — is said to had ties with the Lanao-based Maute group and reportedly backed the group when it tried to establish a caliphate by staging the 2017 siege of Marawi City.