5 terror group members killed in gunfight with cops in Lanao del Norte
SECURITY troops led by members of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group clashed with heavily-armed suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiyah terror group in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte early yesterday morning killing five of the suspects.
A report to PNP-CIDG director Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III said two other suspects were arrested, one of them taken to the hospital after being shot in the encounter in Bgy. Bangco in Sultan Dimaporo municipality.
The clash erupted around 1:05 a.m. yesterday as members of the CIDG Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Unit headed by Lt. Col. Jynleo Y. Bautista led the service of a warrant of arrest against two of their top crime targets identified as Uya and Musa Dama.
Bautista described Musa Dama alias “Tonte” and Uya Dama alias “Lagbas” as leaders of a DI-inspired group involved in criminal activities in Lanao del Sur and its surrounding areas.
Arrested during the operation were Rauf Datumaas,30; and Bocare Datumaas, who was wounded during the firefight.
The official said that Uya Dama is the subject of a warrant of arrest for kidnapping and serious illegal detention issued by Judge Romeo Descallar of the Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay Regional Trial Court Branch 31.
Apart from the suspect, the other slain suspects were identified as Elum and Husni Datumaas and Musa Dama, the subject of a non-bailable warrant of arrest for murder issued by Judge Descallar; and a still unidentified male.
“We were about to serve the warrants of arrest against the two accused when we were met with heavy volume of fire, prompting us to defend ourselves,” said Bautista.
The CIDG official said that Uya Dama has been identified as an “Emir” of a DI-inspired group operating in Maguindanao province and also a member of the Kiang Balingbingan Group involved in the 2018 kidnapping of Laarni Buen, a secretary of the Cebeles Marine Products in Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay, and the killing of militiaman Salipada Manguda in Bgy. Lipakan in Zamboanga Sibugay on October 23, 2023.
The accused was also believed to be one of the gunmen involved in the killing of 44 members of the PNP Special Action Force in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on January 2015 and was also a “person of interest” in a bomb attack in Bgy. Lower Bayao in Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur last September 17.
“We are also looking at his involvement in the October 17 kidnapping of American national Elliot Easman in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte,” said Bautista.
Recovered from the slain suspects were two semi-automatic pistols, three M-16 automatic rifles, assorted magazines, dozens of various live ammunition, an M-1 Garand clip and two grenades.
