2 Dawlah Islamiya members slain

DAVAO CITY – Two members of the Dawlah Islamiya, a terrorist group which has alleged ties with the notorious Maute Group, were killed, early Monday, after they attempted to resist arrest by police operatives in Davao del Sur.

The Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office (DSPPO) identified the alleged terrorists as Norhan Delangalen Sinapan and his brother Norton Delangalen Sinapan, the leader of the Dawlah Islamiya – Digos cell.

Reports bared police operatives, led by DSPPO Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Ferlu Silvio, were about to serve a search warrant in Barangay Aplaya, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur at about 6 a.m. yesterday.

According to Silvio, the suspects immediately fired at the police team upon seeing the operatives, resulting in a gun battle which the Sinapans eventually lost.

Recovered from the crime scene were two Islamic State (IS) flags, a caliber-.45 pistol loaded with six bullet, three fired cartridges, two fragmentation grenades, and an improvised explosive device (IED) component.

The operating team was composed of members of the DSPPO, Davao del Sur Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Explosive Ordnance Division Team and Regional Intelligence Unit 11 (RIU 11) and the Intelligence Service Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP).

Silvio said Norhan was instantly killed, while Norton died on his way to the hospital.

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

Silvio said Dawlah Islamiya was not an IS-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. (With reports from PNA)