Arms cache found in abandoned lair of religious extremists
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 13:15 PM Mon Jun 10, 2019
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By:
John M. Unson
The seized firearms are now in the custody of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion. (Photos from 2nd Mech IB)
MAGUINDANAO --- Soldiers found Sunday assault rifles and grenade launchers in the hideout of two militants implicated in recent terror attacks in the province.
Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said Monday the firearms stockpiled by the wanted duo, Nords Plantis and Guialil Mohamad Dalundong, are now in the custody of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
Plantis and Dalundong both belong to the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which uses the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria as revolutionary banner.
Personnel of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, led by Lt. Col. Alvin Iyog, tried to corner Plantis and Guialil Sunday afternoon but both managed to escape when they noticed soldiers approaching their hideout from two directions.
They left two M16 rifles, an M203 rifle fitted with a grenade launcher, two M14 assault rifles and an M79 single-shot shoulder-mount grenade launcher in their hideout.
Units of 6th ID have neutralized more than 30 BIFF members in operations in Maguindanao province in the past four months.
Army and police intelligence officials said Plantis and Dalundong were also into large-scale trafficking of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) to generate money needed to sustain small BIFF groups perpetrating bomb attacks in central Mindanao.