1 killed, and four BIFF members captured during Ramadan bust

 By: Mark Navales

Policemen inspect high powered weapons, explosive and ammunition, recovered from the hideout of suspected PRO-Islamic militants on Wednesday morning April 14, 2021 in Brgy. Butilen and Brgy. Sambulawan, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. The primary target of the raid, a BIFF bomb expert manage to escape but his companion was killed while his mother and wife were taken into custody at CIDG-BAR.MM (Mark Navales)

Cotabato City -- Authorities killed Marcos Manungal, a former village chief of nearby Datu Piang in Maguindanao allegedly involved in illegal drug trafficking and extortion and arrested four suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during the commencement of Ramadan last Wednesday, April 14 in a bloody encounter.

The four captured suspected militants were Mike Guipal Badrudin, Nadia Kero,

Arbaiya Bangkong Mustapha and Ali Ebrihim Ebrahim, including the mother and wife of Abu Naim while assorted firearms and homemade bombs were recovered from their hideout. (1) Shotgun SN. Deface, 4 live ammunition 12 gauge, 1 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) (4) magazine for BAR, 50 live ammunition .30 caliber, 35 N1 Garrand Clip, 9 Carbine Magazine,3 ammunition boxes and 1 green Magazine pouch.

Police Major Esmael Madin, chief of operation of Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said combined police and military Interagency Operation CIDG RFU BAR, RSOG PRO BAR, 6IB Philippine Army, IG, RIU15, EOD, Maguindanao Maritime Police Station, 1401ST RMFB14, 1ST PMFC Maguindanao PPO, PIU-Maguindanao PPO 1402ND RMFB14, 140T4H RFMB14 and Datu Salibo MPS.

were about to serve a search warrant around 5:30 a.m. in the village of Sambulawan, Datu Salibo town of Maguindanao Province against Jaybee Mastura, also known as Abu Naim, a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) implicated in series of bomb attacks in the region but the target and his companions resisted.

“The suspects who were inside the house sensed the presence of the operating troops and they opened fire. We retaliated and killed one of our companions,” Madin said, adding Abu Naim managed to escape.

“Naim was involved in various bombing activities in the region. He works as a bomb expert of BIFF under Toraife,” Madin stressed.

Confiscated items in the residence of Jaybee Mastura @Abu Naim are 2 Winchester M14 rifle

1 Elisco Baby M16, 1 caliber 45 pistol, 1 BRB423 Fragmentation grenade, 30 rounds 5.56 ammunition, 3 rounds .45 ammunition, 1 Magazine M14 Rifle, 1 Magazine M16 Rifle, 1Magazine .45 pistol, 1 magazine black pouch, 1 magazine pouch yellow and 1 samsung box A20

“Oplan Paglalansag Omega” and Oplan Salikop a joint Interagency Operation headed by CIDG operation chief P/Major Esmael Madin simultaneously implemented the SW Nr. 21-236 Violation of RA 10591against Marcos Manunggal signed by Hon. Allan Edwin P. Boncavil Acting Presiding Judge of 12th Judicial Region RTC Branch 19, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat dated April 6, 2021 and the second SW Nr. 21-238 violation of RA 9516 against Jaybee Mastura at Brgy. Butilen, Datu Salibo

Marcos Manunggal an ex Brgy. Chairman of Brgy. Tee, Datu Salibo Maguindanao, Datumanot Manunggal together with his eight (8 members they are responsible for the distribution of drugs in Maguindanao towns.

 Marcos Manungal,  killed  during the buy bust \operation

Notorious group in the area of Datu Salibo, Sharif Aguak, Mamasapano all of Maguindanao and Midsayap of North Cotabato, newly identified as the “Manunggal Group” (DI-Unlisted). Aside from Illegal Drug Trading they are also involved in Gun Running and Gun for Hire Activities. They are extorting money from different establishments and some habal-habal drivers in the area.

Jaybee Mastura @ Abu Naem/NAim was involved on various bombing activities in North and South Cotabato to Saranggani province; After the death of  Tokboy Maguid leader AKP he merged with the group of Abu Turaifie one of the BIFF leader; He became the SOG team leader and IED expert of the DI-Turaife Group; He was responsible on the IED explosion in a computer shop in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on September 2, 2018 which resulted in the death of 2 persons, two others in critical condition and 11 were wounded. 

The series of attacks occurred while millions of Filipino Muslims in the country, mostly concentrated in the Island of Mindanao, commenced their annual month-long fasting intended to bring them closer to God. Ramadan will end with Muslims celebration worldwide called Eid al-Fitr, an Arabic term which means "festival of breaking the fast".. (By: Mark Navales)