Troops neutralized 47 terrorists, preempted IED attacks, recovered 5 firearms in newest offensives

By Jong Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (March 20, 2017) - A series of deliberate and purposive military operations launched from 13-16 March 2017, Joint Task Forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Western Mindanao Command under MGen. Carlito Galvez, Jr. delivered a crippling blow against foreign and local terrorists holed-in in some parts of Central Mindanao.

Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) Information Officer Cpt. Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Joint Task Force Central (JTF-C) launched air and ground operations against Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), resulted to the neutralization of 47 local and foreign terrorists, the recovery of five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and numerous IED components in Brgy. Tee, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Cpt. Petinglay said the JTF-C Commander BGen. Arnel de la Vega reported that 21 terrorists were killed and 26 were wounded in a series of air strikes and ground combat operations he directed. His deployment of blocking forces proved effective in preventing the terrorists from escaping the mass offensives.

Cpt. Petinglay added that there are no casualties from government troops were recorded. Five (5) already assembled IEDs (four (4) pressure-type and one (1) command detonated) and numerous IED components (½ kl flash powder; 1-inch concrete nail; tin can pressure-type; stranded wire; 9v battery; Christmas day battery; one power flash battery; one Eveready battery; plastic case size 4x4x1; one RF receiver; and four improvised electric BC made of antenna Christmas bulb) recovered from the same Barangay were turned-over to the Explosive Ordnance Device for proper disposal.

Cpt. Petinglay said the recovery from the area of manuals for IED-making indicate that the slain terrorists are giving instructions on how to assemble explosive devises and launch bombing attacks. The offensives were to hit the group of Muhammad Ali Bin Abdulrahman, a.k.a Muawiyah, a foreign terrorist; Salahuddin Hassan, a local terrorist and bomber trained by the latter, and Esmael Abdulmalik, a. k. a. Abu Toraype, the Dawlah Islamiyah Maguindanao founder and a Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) Brigade Commander. Validations are being made on the ground on the persistent reports that these terrorists were killed in the well-planned, well-coordinated, and well-executed massive air and ground operations.

These misfits were cohorts of the foreign terrorist Marwan, the target of the SAF PNP operations in January 2016, and are responsible for the series of bombing incidents in Mindanao. Their group is also conducting IED training among newly recruited members from different Provinces including those from the Maute group, with test missions that target NGCP towers, public areas, and conveyances.

Meanwhile, troops from the 40th Infantry Battalion recovered five firearms following a recent clash with the remnants of the slain terrorist leaders Mawiyah and Hassan at Brgy. Pidsandawan, Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao at 2 in the morning on March 18, 2017, official said.

Cpt. Petinglay said JTF Central soldiers recovered one (1) Springfield carbine rifle; one (1) Garand rifle converted into magazine feed type; one (1) M79 homemade; two (2) homemade shotguns and other enemy paraphernalia. On support to anti-illegal drugs and law enforcement operations, Joint Task Force Central’s 7IB, 6ID led by LTC Lomas-e launched a joint operation in 17 March at 7AM with elements of PDEA Region 12 headed by Director Gil Castro and North Cotabato Provincial Police Office.

The security forces served Search Warrants to suspected drug dealers residing in a compound at Brgy. Dalingaoen, Pikit, North Cotabato. The search was conducted in the presence of their elected barangay officials.

Seized from the compound were several packs and sachets of "shabu" with an estimated amount of 1 million pesos; one (1) cal .45 pistol with two (2) magazines fully loaded; three (3) carnapped motorcycles; P28,000 cash; and several cellphones. Eleven persons (9 men & 2 women) and a certain Mangiging Pandian High Value Target, were also arrested.

The arrested persons and recovered items and pieces of evidence were brought to North Cotabato Provincial Police Office for further investigation, examination & for proper legal procedures.

"These are commendable operational accomplishments of the Joint Task Force Central under Brigadier General Arnel Dela Vega,” said Major General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of Western Mindanao Command.

"With the recent successful operations, the AFP has dealt a severe blow on the reported ISIS cell in Central Mindanao. We are also confident that their bomb making capability was seriously degraded if not negated".

"We also put emphasis and importance in our Counter-Illegal Drug operations in support to the PDEA and the PNP. The operation in Pikit only proves that we can accomplish so much with commitment and collaboration," MGen Galvez, Jr. concludes.