Four young IS fighters nabbed in Mindanao

They allegedly belong to the Dawlah Islamiyah-Lanao terror group.

The Philippine Army and Moro Islamic Liberation Front apprehended four young alleged IS fighters on May 28, 2023. An Army troop trains in this Philippine Army file photo.

LANAO DEL SUR: Four young members of a pro-IS local terror group including two teenagers were caught by government troops in the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Sur on Thursday evening (May 28).

The Joint Task Force ZamPeLan Commander, Maj. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, in a statement Saturday (May 27), said troops of the 32nd Infantry Battalion acted on information from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members under Esmail Cosain, a.k.a. Kumander Delta, regarding the presence of unidentified armed men in Pabrika village, Marugong municipality. 

While moving towards the target area, the operating troops composed of a platoon of soldiers and five MILF members sighted a group of armed men. 

Sensing the presence of the government forces, they scampered in different directions prompting the troops to execute a hasty raid. 

The operation resulted in the apprehension of the four identified as members of Dawlah Islamiyah-Lanao (DI-Lanao) under Juhari Sandab, a.k.a. Abu Morsid.

They were waiting for supplies and foodstuff from their supporters when they were apprehended in the said area, said Nafarrete. 

The apprehended personalities have been identified as Abu Rasas, an alias, 18; Saidi, 18; and two minors aged 16 and 14. 

Abu Rasas was one of the key leaders under Fajarudin Pumbaya Pangalian, a.k.a. Abu Zacariah, who according to the military last year was the leader of IS in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. 

Saidi is the brother of a DI-Lanao sub-leader known as Abu Sham. 

The troops seized from the four one 7.62mm M14 rifle, one 5.56mm M16A1 rifle, one 5.56mm R4 rifle, one 40mm M203 Grenade Launcher, one 7.62mm Springfield rifle, five improvised explosive devices, five 40mm Grenade Launcher ammunition, assorted magazines and ammunition. 

The troops immediately coordinated with their police counterparts for the filing of appropriate charges against the apprehended personalities.

The Western Mindanao Command chief, Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commended the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan for this accomplishment. 

He also lauded the good relationship between the MILF and the military in the area, which resulted in the successful operation. 

DI-Lanao, also known as the Maute Group, along with the Abu Sayyaf Group, were responsible for the 2017 siege of Marawi City in Lanao del Sur which took more than 1,200 lives, mostly militants.