Residents assured of no ISIS presence in Maguindanao town after fishermen mistaken as rebels

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao - The local government of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao together with the provincial police and Philippine Marines denied the presence of ISIS rebels in the town.

This came after fishermen holding "holen gun" or improvised PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe guns were mistaken as ISIS armed men by some residents.

During the municipal peace and order meeting held on Monday in the town hall, which was attended by all barangay officials, security officials from the Philippine Army, Provincial Police, Philippine Marines and Barangay Peace Auxillary Team (BPAT), Police Major Julhamin Asdani said the ISIS scare was just “tsismis” (rumor) that spread through social media.

Residents of Barangay Dalumangcob came out, including the fishermen mistaken as ISIS armed men, to clear the air.

A fisherman who did not give his name said they were walking home one day after fishing and hunting in the riverside and marshland.

“Maybe they have mistakenly identified us (as ISIS) because we brought holen guns used in hunting birds,” he said in the Maguindanaon dialect.

This was corroborated by the statement of a woman resident who also did not identify herself, saying she texted her sister about the armed men she saw.

“When my sister received my text, she thought it was the ISIS men attacking MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) communities like what happened in other parts of Maguindanao area,” she said.

Sultan Kudarat town Mayor Datu Shameem Tucao Mastura assured residents that authorities will be the first to know should ISIS members attempt to enter their town.

He also vowed that they won’t allow ISIS to operate in their communities.

“We are much aware of any movement of those who came in and out of our communities. We will be the first line of defense if they attempt to invade our territories, and they won’t prosper as I and our local officials will counter them by all means,” Mastura said.

He also advised his constituents not to welcome or embrace any ISIS-inspired ideology, and report to his office or security forces anything of that sort if monitored.

Army and Marine soldiers belonging to the 6th Division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and policemen of Maguindanao who until now were not able to verify sightings of suspected ISIS armed men have vowed to topple the rebels once they are spotted.

The MILF which has its main camp, Camp Darapanan, in Sultan Kudarat town said they will not allow ISIS men to influence residents or launch attacks against them.

MILF Top Front Commander Gordon Sayfullah who joined the meeting said the few men inspired by ISIS will not prosper if they attempt to instill their will under the Bangsamoro government.

“They must better rethink," said Sayfullah.

On the night of November 3, Sunday, Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi posted a statement on her social media account alerting Cotabatenios of the said ISIS sighting in Cotabato City from Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

She vowed to fight them with the full force of security sectors and asked the help of residents to be vigilant or report any information about their presence.

Following tightened security after the ISIS scare, two armed were arrested on Monday by Cotabato City Police in Bagsakan area on Jose Lim Street.

Those arrested were identified as Ebrahim Guialon  and Giahud Mama.

Confiscated from them were a .45 pistol and a 9mm pistol.

Police Major Glenn Mar Avisa, chief of Station Precinct 1 of the city police, said civilians reported to them that two suspicious persons were in the area a long time and seem to be waiting for someone.

“We acted immediately, and we found out they are armed. What really makes it more suspicious is that one of the suspects is wearing a face mask while armed,” said Avisa.

Both suspects belong to MILF’s 105th Base Command based on the IDs seized by the policemen. —KG, GMA News