ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police and military personnel raided a suspected hideout of Dawlah Islamiyah Maguid Group in Sitio Bunawan, Tupi town in South Cotabato and arrested four people believed supporters of the front.
Joint Task Force Central commander Major General Alex Rillera on Tuesday said that authorities — armed with a warrant of arrest against a certain Rex Soliman — raided his hideout at dawn on Sunday.
However, Soliman, also known as Latif, the leader of the armed lawless group and supporter of the DI-Maguid Group, was able to elude arrest.
Meantime, four of the insurgent leader's followers were arrested during the raid.
They were identified as Angelo Abul, Melvin Ditan, John Ditan, and Gabriel Palucan, all residents of Barangay Polonuling, Tupi, South Cotabato.
Authorities also seized from the possession of his four followers one unit of improvised cal .45 home-made Thompson rifle, a magazine for .45 cal., one unit of cal. 38 revolver pistol with ammunition, one piece of grenade and some sachet of suspected shabu.
Rillera thanked the quick response of the military, police, and the local government of South Cotabato during the conduct of the raid.
"This operation shows the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat lawless group and drug-related activities to maintain peace and order in the province," Rillera said.
