An Army officer sorts out explosives seized from Dawlah Islamiyah members after an encounter with Army Scout Rangers in Barangay Tapurog, Piagapo in Lanao del Sur on January 25, 2024. Nine members of the militant group were killed in the firefight. MindaNews photo by FROLIAN GALLARDO
MARAWI CITY (MindaNews / 29 January) – In adherence to the mechanisms of the Bangsamoro peace process, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has allowed an assault force of Army Scout Rangers to pass and attack a band of Dawlah Islamiyah militants hiding near their camp in Barangay Tapurog, Piagapo in Lanao del Sur last January 25, a ranking official said.
Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Abdullah Makapaar said he ordered their mujahideens (Islamic fighters) to stand down in accordance to the mechanisms of the peace process between the government and the MILF.
“I also ordered my men to arrest any Dawlah Islamiyah members if they seek refuge in our camps,“ Makapaar, popularly called “Commander Bravo,” told reporters in Marawi City on Monday.
Makapaar said he is facilitating the return of a wounded Dawlah Islamiyah member, who sent surrender feelers to him.
He said the wounded individual was among the six militants who managed to escape the January 25 encounters in Barangay Tapurog.
Makapaar noted the MILF and the government followed the mechanisms of the Bangsamoro peace process in relation to the January 25 military operation.
These mechanisms include the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and the Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, which were designed to interject criminals and avoid misencounter in the field similar to the 2015 Mamasapano incident that left 44 police officers and 18 MILF fighters killed.
Brig. General Yegor Rey Barroquillo, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said that after receiving assurance from Makapaar, they immediately attacked the militants who were staying in a nipa hut in Barangay Tapurog.
“We launch our attack at around 4 p.m. and stopped during the night. The following morning we attacked again,” Barroquillo said.
Baroquillo said a total of three firefights were initiated by the Scout Rangers who had a sniper team against the militants.
He said three of the nine militants killed were involved in the December 3 bombing of a Catholic Mass at the Mindanao State University -Marawi that left four people dead and 72 injured
Baroquillo identified them as Saumay Saiden alias Abu Omar, who allegedly planted the improvised bomb; Abdul Hadi, who allegedly assembled the explosive device used in the MSU-Marawi bombing; and a certain Salman.
“We are positive in the involvement of these three. They were caught on CCTV. Omar was the one who was wearing a white polo and who planted the bomb,” Barroquilo said.
Unfortunately, Baroquillo said the alleged mastermind of the MSU bombing, identified as Kadapi Mimbesa, alias “Engineer,” managed to escape the January 25 military operation.
He said the Scout Rangers attacked at least 15 militants, of which nine were killed while six managed to escape, including Mimbesa. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)
