COTABATO CITY – Pro-ISIS militants shot dead a villager and wounded 2 others during a clash with army soldiers in the restive Muslim province of Maguindanao in southern Philippines, officials said Saturday.
Officials identified the slain civilian as Babay Dansalan and the wounded as Maula Rerente Mangimblas, Dangalao Dangwa Akad. They were caught in the crossfire. The Friday fighting broke out in the town of Datu Montawal where two militants – Mohamid Kambilan and Abdulah Minola – were later captured by soldiers and recovered 3 rifles and a pistol, including ammunition.
The duo was being linked by the 6th Infantry Division to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters under the faction of militant leader Abu Turaife, who pledged allegiance with ISIS. The captured militants were handed over by soldiers to the municipal police force, according to Captain Arvin Encinas, an army spokesman.
He said the fighting erupted after troops received reports that gunmen were transporting improvised explosives to North Cotabato’s Kabacan town. And that soldiers caught up with the militants in the village of Tunggol and a firefight broke out.
Encinas also said that civilians reported that the militants who escaped from soldiers had fled on a boat with their 5 casualties later in the night. The report, however, could not be independently confirmed or verified.
The military has blamed the militant group – which is fighting for the establishment of a caliphate – for the recent bombings in Isulan town in North Cotabato that left scores of civilians dead and wounded.
There was no immediate statement from Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu on the latest breakout of violence in his province. But he was in Davao City on Friday where he received an honorary doctorate degree during the 20th International Conference and Conferment Ceremony of the Royal Institution (Singapore). It was held at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Hall. (Mindanao Examiner)
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