Maguindanao ready for retaliatory attacks of extremists

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Authorities are anticipating retaliations by the fledgling Jama’atul Wal Ansar following Sunday’s police operation in Shariff Aguak town that resulted in the deaths of its two pioneer members.

Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, director of the Maguindanao provincial police, said on Wednesday that they have tightened security in areas vulnerable to attacks by extremists out to avenge the deaths of Raul Angkay and Edz Dalinding.

They were shot dead by agents of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the provincial police when they refused to yield while being served warrants for their arrest during a law enforcement operation in Barangay Labu-Labu, Shariff Aguak on Sunday morning.

The Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) said the duo both belong to a third faction in the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, now known as the Jama’atul Wal Ansar, which also uses the flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria as its revolutionary banner.

Captain Arvin Encinas, public affairs officer of 6th ID, said Army intelligence agents have been deployed in strategic areas in Shariff Aguak and nearby towns to help monitor the movements of their companions.

Angkay was among the fanatical extremists listed in one of two arrest warrants issued two weeks ago by the Department of National Defense, premised on the martial law declared by President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the hostilities in Marawi City that were instigated by the Maute terror group.

Municipal officials in different towns in the second district of Maguindanao confirmed on Wednesdaythat nine members of the new BIFF breakaway group were killed by soldiers in encounters from between June 6 to 12.   

The group is led by Abdulmalik Esmael and Salahudin Hassan, who both started in 2011 as members of the central leadership core of the the BIFF, then still a monolithic jihadist bloc.

The police is also guarding against attacks by sympathizers of Nazzer Dilangalen, an alleged recruiter of another ISIS-inspired group, the Ansa’r Al-Khilafa, who was arrested in Cotabato City more than a week ago.

The Ansa’r Al-Khilafa is operating in the neighboring Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces in Region 12.

In a follow up operation Monday, combined police and Army personnel found in Dilangalen's house in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao materials for an improvised explosive device and an unlicensed .45 caliber pistol.

Chief Inspector Achmad Alibonga of the Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police said on Wednesday that corresponding cases would be filed against Dilangalen for possession of IED components and a loose firearm.

Alibonga said their search operation on Monday was covered by a warrant issued by Judge Alandrex Betoya.