Mindanao Armed Conflict

LANAO DEL SUR --- Police agents shot dead Wednesday an uncooperative suspect in the Nov. 10, 2019 ambush of Mayor Nasser Pangandaman of Masiu, Lanao del Sur that left his security escort dead.

The shootout erupted when Jalaloding Mocsir, wanted for a series of murders, and cohort Nasrullah Capal, pulled out guns and opened fire on the team approaching their hideout in Saguiaran town to arrest them.

Mocsir and Capal both died in the spot from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Col. Madgani Mukaram, director of the Lanao de Sur provincial police.

COTABATO CITY --- A police lieutenant and a civilian tipster were killed Sunday in an operation meant to entrap large-scale drug dealers in Indanan town in Sulu that went haywire.

Lt. Sali Aspi Salim of the Sulu provincial police and the vigilant villager who helped them plot the sting both died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Gunmen on board a pick-up truck ambushed and killed the vice mayor of Baliguian, Zamboanga del Norte and two of his companions along a lonely highway in Barangay Santa Maria, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

The ambush occurred at 11:20 a.m., according to Major Edison Alviar, acting police chief of Siocon town.

Alviar said Baliguian Vice Mayor Gani Ismale was driving the dark blue SUV with three escorts traveling to Baliguian when about five gunmen on board a pick-up truck overtook them and opened fire, using long and short firearms.

KIDAPAWAN CITY – The highest military commander in central and western Mindanao has proposed the creation of a “Joint Task Force” for Region 12 and the Bangsamoro region to effectively combat terrorism and illegal drugs.

The proposal from Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana for the creation of joint task force is seen as the best strategy to resolve armed conflict, insurgency and illegal drug trading.

Sobejana presented his proposal to the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting held in Koronadal City last week.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – JTFC security forces together with the Midsayap MPS recovered several high powered firearms and war materials in Barangay Nabalawag of Midsayap, North Cotabato.

The combined troops conducted a joint Law Enforcement Operations on 1230 noon time of December 27 2019 upon receiving information from concerned civilians of the presence of suspected BIFF members in Brgy Nabalawag, Midsayap.

Combined troops of 7IB; 602nd Infantry Brigade; 34IB; 62nd Division Reconnaissance Company; EOD Team; and Pikit PNP recovered Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) and other paraphernalias today, 27 December 2019 at Sitio Blah, Brgy Manaulanan, Pikit, North Corabato while pursuing the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF).

COTABATO CITY --- The critically wounded victim of Tuesday’s ambush in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao died in a hospital Wednesday, the second fatality in the attack that also hurt a vice mayor.

Hadji Akmad Lumenda Ampatuan succumbed to multiple bullet wounds on Wednesday afternoon, according to relatives and local officials in Shariff Aguak.

COTABATO CITY --- Local executives today urged residents here and in towns in North Cotabato to be watchful of the surroundings following Sunday night’s bombings that hurt 19 people.

Sixteen persons, among them Army servicemen, were hurt in the explosion in downtown Cotabato City while five more got injured minutes later in another blast that rocked Libungan town in North Cotabato, about 30 kilometers away.

MANILA -- Checkpoint operations in Mindanao will continue despite the lifting of martial law by year-end.

"Well definitely checkpoints are going to continue, after all even without the martial law, checkpoints are there," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Marine Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said in an interview with CNN Philippines' "The Source" Wednesday.

Arevalo was responding to questions on how Mindanao will look with the lifting of martial law.

MANILA -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not inclined to recommend any Christmas truce with the remaining communist rebels, citing that the latter is using the season as an opportunity to regroup their forces.