Mohammad Ali Tambako, former Vice Chairman for Military Affairs of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and now leader of the Justice for Islamic Movement, is being escorted by soldiers and policemen following his capture recently along with 5 others in General Santos City in southern Philippines. (Photo by SN1 Donald Viluan – Armed Forces of the Philippines)
COTABATO CITY – Philippine authorities have arrested the leader of a new jihadist group called Justice for Islamic Movement during a top secret operation in the restive southern region of Mindanao, officials said Monday.
Officials said 5 other jihadists were also arrested along with Mohammad Tambako, the self-proclaimed leader of JIM, who recently split with the rebel group BIFF or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters tagged as behind the spate of bombings in the region.
Tambako’s group was tracked down on the village of Calumpang in General Santos City late on Sunday, but details of the operations were not immediately available as security forces continue to search for other members of the group.
It was unknown whether the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front helped in the capture of Tambako, but officials said most of those who took part in the operation were from the police and military intelligence groups.
Five of Tambako’s members have been identified as Mesharie Gayak, Datukan Sabiwang, Ali Ludisma, Ibrahim Kapina and Abusahma Guiamil. They are currently being interrogated by authorities over the group’s terror activities. Several weapons and grenades were also seized from them.
Officials said Tambako was the former deputy chieftain of the BIFF, armed wing of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement headed by Ameril Umra Kato, who was a commander of the MILF, but broke away with the Front after its chieftain Murad Ebrahim opened peace talks with Manila and abandoned Muslim independence for an autonomy government in Mindanao. (Moh Saaduddin. With a report from mark Navales, Rose Muneza and Cris Jay Diaz)
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