Mindanao Armed Conflict

COTABATO CITY - Two were killed while six others were hurt in separate gunfights here and in nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte between late Tuesday and before dawn Wednesday.

Col. Querubin Manalang, director of the Cotabato City Police Office, told reporters Wednesday two members of the Moro National Liberation Front were killed while five others were hurt when men armed with assault rifles from Barangay Bitu in Datu Odin Sinsuat town attacked their village in Barangay Tamontaka 2 here early Wednesday, sparking a gunfight.

COTABATO CITY - Authorities arrested Tuesday in President Roxas, Cotabato a wanted bomb-maker of the Dawlah Islamiya wanted for deadly bombings in central Mindanao.

Brig. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division, and Brig. Gen. Jamili Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office-12, separately confirmed Wednesday the arrest of the suspect, Jordan Akmad, now detained.

POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato - Gunmen shot dead another member of the municipal Civil Security Unit here Monday, the third in just three days. 

Col. Nathaniel Villegas, South Cotabato provincial police director, said Tuesday the fatality, Donald Cabigas, 65, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

Cabigas, intelligence officer of the Polomolok CSU, was a retired police major, according to relatives. 

Cabigas was attacked on Monday afternoon by men armed with 9 millimeter and .45 caliber pistols in Tuazon Subdivision in Polomolok, killing him on the spot.

COTABATO CITY --- A militiamen and four others, among them a 10-year-old boy, were hurt as gunmen shot with assault rifles a detachment in Lamitan City, Basilan late Sunday.

The 36-year Romy Alano Mangkabung, who is a member of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, his wife Hasma, 30, their 10-year-old nephew and a daughter of another militiaman, Nasira Moreno, 20, sustained bullet wounds in different parts of their bodies.

They are now confined in the Lamitan City District Hospital.

COTABATO CITY - The police seized 10 assault rifles from an Indonesian and two Filipino companions intercepted Saturday at a checkpoint in Kiamba town in Sarangani. 

The Indonesian Anton Gobay, 29, and his Filipino companions, Michael Tino, 25, and the 53-year-old Jimmy Adolbe, are now clamped down in a detention facility of the Kiamba Municipal Police Station.

KORONADAL CITY --- Gunmen killed two personnel of a municipal civil security unit in an ambush Friday night in nearby Polomolok town in South Cotabato.

In an initial report Friday, the Polomolok Municipal Police Station identified the fatalities as Bonifacio Cabisada, 58, and his 56-year-old companion, Jessie Arciete.

They both died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

The office of Brig. Gen. Jamili Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office 12, said in a statement Saturday that Cabisada was a retired policeman.

UPDATE: Isa patay, tatlo sugatan kabilang ang 1-year-old na bata sa nangyaring ambush sa Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur

NANGYARI ang ambush sa Barangay Lower Salbu,Datu Saudi Ampatuan,Maguindanao del Sur pasado ala 1:00 ng hapon kanina.

Ayon kay Maguindanao PNP Public Information Officer Major Reggie Albellera, dead on arrival sa pagamutan ang mismong padre de pamilya na si Junior Sumlay, 42, siyang driver ng minamaneho nitong pulang mutlicab.

COTABATO CITY - Gunmen killed a Moro farmer active in peacebuilding programs and his son in an ambush Tuesday night in Mlang town in Cotabato province.

In a statement Tuesday, the office of Brig. Gen. Jamil Macaraeg, director of the Police Regional Office 12, identified the fatalities as Tatuan Mangelen Buisan and his son, Benjie.

They were riding a motorcycle together en route to somewhere when gunmen positioned along a road in Barangay Dunguan in Mlang flagged them down and shot them with pistols.

COTABATO CITY --- Four were killed in separate gunfights Tuesday between rival Moro groups in two towns in Maguindanao del Sur that forced dozens of poor families to relocate to safe areas.

Lt. Nurjhasser Sali, municipal police chief of Datu Montawal, told reporters Wednesday a gunman named Khalid Mindalagat perished when two Moro clans, armed with assault rifles, fought Tuesday at the border of Barangays Dungguan and Palapas.

COTABATO CITY - Two gunmen were killed as rival Moro groups traded shots before dawn Tuesday in Sultan sa Barongis town in Maguindanao del Sur, causing panic among villagers in houses nearby.

Local leaders in Sultan sa Barongis and officials of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office told reporters the hostilities erupted when gunmen led by Marham Sali attacked the group of Ustadz Daya in Damabagu area in Sultan sa Barongis at around 3:00 a.m. Tuesday.