Marines on the hunt for leader of IS sympathizers

COTABATO CITY (PNA)– Military authorities in Sultan Kudarat have intensified the manhunt for Jaafar Maguid, leader of a notorious gang in Palimbang, following a clash Thursday that left eight of his followers dead, military officials said Friday.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat, commander of the First Marine Brigade commander based in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, said the discovery of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flags does not necessary follow that the group was an active member of the international terrorist organization.

He maintained no genuine ISIS group exists in the coastal areas of Palimbang.

In the past, members of the Sulubased Abu Sayyaf Group(ASG) were seen in the coastal towns of Palimbang, Kalamansig and Lebak, all in Sultan Kudarat. The area faces the Moro Gulf across Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi where the ASG also operate.

Salamat said operations are still on going to neutralize Maguid alias “Commander Tokboy,” in the hinterlands of Barangay Butril in Palimbang.

Eight bodies were recovered by Marine forces in Sitio Sinapingan, Barangay Butril following a 5:30 a.m. encounter Thursday.

A locally-made barret rifle, cal. 45 pistol, ammunition and five ISIS flags were also recovered by government forces.“Pauso-uso lang para sabihin (Just for fashion to show) they are sympathizers of ISIS and a force to reckon with,” Army Major Felimon Tan, spokesperson of the military’s Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) spokesperson.

Except for the flags, there was no solid proof that they are indeed hardcore ISIS members, he said.

“Our troops were patrolling in the village of Butril when they were fired upon by an armed group which triggered a two minute fire fight,” Tan said in a phone interview.

“We consider them as armed lawless elements,” Tan added.

He said the group of Commander Tokboy was responsible in the series of cattle rustling, robbery, extortion, and various crimes.

Two of the fatalities were believed to be Indonesians, police and military initial investigation showed.

One of the two alleged Indonesians was identified as Abdul Fatah. But Tan said this is still being verified.

Also killed were Kira Sadiwang, Ustads Abdul Halim and Patu Sumail, all residents of Barangay KulongPulong, Palimbang. Others remained unidentified.

Aside from ISIS flags and firearms, government forces also recovered solar panel used by the group for electricity and bloodied ATM cards.

Tan said Commander Tokboy was a former member of 105th base command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to form his own group in Palimbang, a coastal town of Sultan Kudarat and is 100 kilometers south of Cotabato City.