ANTI-TERROR operations continue in southern Philippines as security forces hunt down members of militant groups allied with the Islamic State.
The military and other law enforcement agencies have been working closely in the anti-terror campaign in the restive, but mineral-rich region where militants are fighting to put up a caliphate in Mindanao and drive away Christian settlers.
Several armed groups have been waging “jihad” in the South and continue recruiting young members who had been brainwashed by false interpretation of the holy Koran similar to teachings espoused by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and even Taliban in Afghanistan.
Just recently, security forces in General Santos city shot dead a pro-ISIS bomber and captured 7 people, including the wife of the leader of local ISIS group in southern Philippines following a dangerous mission that left one police commando wounded during a firefight.
Major Ezra Balagtey, a spokesman for the Eastern Mindanao Command, said the slain bomber, Najib Pundog, was a member of the Maute group that laid siege in Marawi City last year. “Najib Calimba Pundog alias Najib Hussein, an IED expert and bomber of the Maute group was killed during an inter-agency law enforcement operations in General Santos city,” he said.
The operations were launched in the village of Fatima where Pundog was hiding, according to Balagtey, who said the bomber opened fire on security forces sent to arrest him, sparking a firefight that wounded the commando. “Recovered in his possession are one Glock automatic pistol and a hand grenade,” Balagtey said.
Security forces also swooped down on another hideout in Apopong village also in General Santos and captured Nasifa Pundog, one of several wives of Humam Abdulmajid, also known as Abu Dar and the new emir of ISIS in the Philippines who was also involved in the siege of Marawi that left hundreds of people dead and wounded in fighting that lasted for 5 months. Pundog is facing a string of criminal charges, including illegal possession of incendiary device.
Five other people – Nafah Pundug Macaraya, 35; Famida Amer Macasindel, 29; Naica Amina Calimba Pundug, 22; Nashibah Calimba Pundug, 37; Saramina Calimba Pundug, 60, – were also arrested after they prevented security forces from arresting the woman.
Troops also arrested the younger brother of the slain bomber, Mohamad Naif Pundog, 23, after a fragmentation grenade was found in his possession. It was unclear whether the man tried to detonate the grenade during the security operations.
Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., chief of the Eastern Mindanao Command, praised the successful operations and appealed to the public to support the government’s anti-terror campaign in order to prevent any possible atrocities by terrorists in the restive region.
“This joint efforts of the local communities and our law enforcers manifest that terrorism will not prosper if we put our acts together. We call on the continuous participation of the communities and other government organizations and law enforcement agencies in our effort to prevent violent extremism in our midst,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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