COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/ 19 Nov.) – Two alleged members of an Islamic State-inspired group were killed in a shootout with security forces in Tacurong City at 2am Monday.
Superintendent Aldrin Gonzalez, information chief of Police Regional Office-12 said a gray multicab tried to evade a checkpoint in Barangay Kenram in Isulan town by turning back towards Tacurong, making the police and soldiers suspicious.
Gonzales said the suspects opened fire at members of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 12 in Barrio Dos, Tacurong where they attempted to escape.
This prompted the police and soldiers to chase the suspects until they were cornered at Kapingkong Road in Tacurong where they were killed in a firefight.
Recovered from the crime scene were one ISIS flag, one 9mm berretta pistol bearing the name of the PNP, one KG9 pistol, assorted ammunition, one improvised explosive device which the Sultan Kudarat police detonated at about 4:30 am, cellphone parts, and one piece 9 volts battery and parts of a blasting cap.
The registration of the suspect’s vehicle said it was registered in Maguindanao, but police did not reveal the details yet pending investigation.
PRO 12 regional director Chief Supt. Eliseo Rasco went to the scene of incident on Monday morning for an ocular inspection.
He lauded the operatives who pursued the suspects as well as, the community members who gave information that preempted a possible terror attack.
Sultan Kudarat has imposed a heightened alert to prevent attacks during the province’s ongoing Kalimudan Festival.
Meanwhile, in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao two IEDs went off beside the national highway in Barangay Labu-Labu wounding one soldier.
Captain Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division said the first explosion occurred around 6:00am and the second around 30 minutes later.
This prompted the military to close the national highway for hours to give way to a clearing operation. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)