CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO – Government forces running after Islamic State-linked armed men in Maguindanao recovered high-powered firearms and explosives on Wednesday, the military here said. Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said the recovery of the war materials came after a brief firefight in Barangay Nabundas in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao. A village official, who asked not to be named, said the armed men were demanding “zakat” (religious tax) now that they have started harvesting corn crops. Shariff Saydona is a town within the so-called SPMS (Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona) box, which the military said, has been the stronghold of BIFF armed men who pledge allegiance to the ISIS. BIFF had been blamed for several bombings in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 04, 2018 02:26 UTC