PNP troops kill 2 suspected members of group linked to ISIS

MANILA, Philippines - Two still unidentified suspected members of the terrorist group Ansar Al-Khalifa Philippines (AKP) were killed in a firefight on Thursday at Sitio Bulat, Barangay Daliao in Sarangani Province.

The AKP had earlier pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).

A report sent to Camp Crame by Sarangani Police director, Senior Superintendent Joseph Semillano, said joint operating elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Special Investigation and Detection Team (RSIDT), Special Action Force, Region 12 Public Safety Battalion (RPSB12) and the Sarangani Police Provincial Office (PPO) clashed with an AKP group led by Mohammad Jaafar Sabiwang Maguid alias Tokboy at around 3:00 a.m.

Semillano said Maguid, the head of AKP in Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat areas, was able to escape during the clash. He added that no one on the government side was hurt.

According to the PNP, on Nov. 26, 2015, Maguid also eluded arrest in an encounter at Palimbang Sultan Kudarat between the AKP and the members of the Philippine Marines.

In that encounter, eight AKP members including Ibrahim Sucipto alias Ibrahim Ali, Abu Masud and Abu Muhammad were killed. Also killed in that encounter was a certain Huzaifa, an Indonesian whom the PNP said was a former leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah in Mindanao.

Recovered by police after the Sarangani clash were a Barret sniper rifle with two loaded magazines, two carbine rifles with loaded magazines, two rocket propelled grenade rounds, three 60 mm mortar rounds, a black ISIS flag, two kilos of black powder and various parts and components used in the making of an improvised explosive device.