Suspect in Mindanao bombings killed, 1 arrested in Cotabato—military

An alleged member of Daulah Islamiyah (DI) was killed and another one was arrested in M’lang, Cotabato on Wednesday in an operation against the suspects in the recent bombings in Mindanao, the military said Thursday.

In a statement, the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) identified the fatality as Monir Lintukan and the arrested suspect as Randy Karon or “Bong,” who allegedly belong to the DI Maguindanao Group.

The 602nd Infantry Brigade and Police Regional Office 12 targeted the suspects in the explosions reported in Parang, Maguindanao; Koronadal City, South Cotabato; and Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.

According to the Wesmincom, the law enforcement support operation resulted in an encounter with an undetermined number of DI members led by Almoben Camen Sebod or Polok.

Sebod was allegedly a full-time member of the group directly involved in extortion and scam activities, the military said.

After the firefight, operating troops recovered the body of Lintukan.

Also recovered from the area were a 5.56mm M16 rifle, a long magazine of M16 with 41 rounds cartridge of cal. 5.56mm ball, a bandolier, and an improvised explosive device, the military said.

On May 26, a tricycle driver was hurt in an explosion inside a bus in Koronadal City, South Cotabato. Another explosion at a vacant lot was reported in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat on the same day.

On Monday, explosions also hit a parking lot near a fast-food chain and a motor pool of a bus company in Isabela City, Basilan.

These incidents prompted the Philippine National Police to place its entire force on full alert.—Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News