Wife of slain terrorists Janjalani and Marwan captured; loose firearms and grenades seized in Lanao ops

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (February 26, 2018) - Soldiers and policemen captured a woman believed to be the wife of two slain terrorists in a law enforcement support operation launched by the Joint Task Force Zampelan and the Lanao del Norte PNP, Sunday (February 25) morning, military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that soldiers of the 5th Mechanized Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Manalo and the Lanao del Norte police seized a fragmentation hand grenade, six blasting caps and its assembly, detonating cord, a Caliber 9mm Glock 17 Gen 4 with three magazines and 37 pieces of live ammunition from Juromee Dongon, SPO4 Andy Ata, and Lorilie Ata at Purok 5, Poblacion, Tubod, Lanao del Norte at 4:30am Sunday (February 25).

Cpt Petinglay said that Juromee Pindoy Dongon is believed to be the wife of two slain militants, Abu Sayyaf Group senior leader Khadaffy Janjalani and Malaysian bomber Zulkifli Bin Hiralyas Marwan. Both were killed by government forces in different encounters, Janjalani was killed in Patikul, Sulu in 2006 while Marwan was killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015. The said operation was launched by virtue of a search warrant issued against Juromee Dungon for violations of Republic Act Nos.10591 and 9516.

At almost the same time in a separate operation, a search warrant was served on Romeo Dongon, a.k.a. Faisal, in Sitio Tinago, Barangay San Juan, Baroy, Lanaodel Norte, Cpt. Petinglay added.

Said operation yielded to the arrests of Romeo Dongon (father of Juromee) and Nur-ain Dongon Santos (sister of Juromee). Seized from them were a Caliber .45 Pistol Colt MK1 with three cartridges and a magazine; an M61 fragmentation hand grenade; and several explosive components, including an empty blasting cup, detonating cord, and two electrical wires.

"Operating troops are currently consolidating and coordinating with police counterparts for the processing of the arrested persons and the recovered items," said Major General Roseller G Murillo, Commander of the Joint Task Force Zampelan.

 “Our intelligence community was able to trace and track the suspects and was able to file enough evidence to prove that the arrested persons associate, support and cater the needs of terrorists groups in Mindanao.”

Cpt Petinglay further said that the arrested persons and the pieces of evidence were subsequently brought to the tactical command post of the 5th MechBn. It can be recalled that Police Superintendent Ma. Cristina Nobleza and alleged Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bomber Renierlo "Ren-Ren" Dongon, were arrested by government security forces at a checkpoint in Barangay, Bacani, Clarin on 22 April 2017 amid clashes between the Abu Sayyaf and government troops in Bohol. They were eventually taken into police custody together with Dongon’s mother, Judith, and a minor believed to be his sibling. Juromee is Renierlo Dongon’s sister.

"We will maintain our efforts to deter lawless violence and demilitarize armed groups to support the campaign of the police in Mindanao," said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“We will also further intensify our counter-Daesh campaign particularly sustaining collaboration and support to other law enforcement agencies in the government’s campaign against terrorism.”

“My Congratulations to Joint Task Force Zampelan and for the Lanao PNP for another mission accomplished,” the WestMinCom Chief adds.