PNP: Dawlah Islamiyah bombmaker nabbed in Sultan Kudarat

An alleged bombmaker of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group has been arrested in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the PNP said the Special Action Force served three arrest warrants against the accused on Tuesday evening for multiple murder, destructive arson, and terrorism.

Authorities also recovered an improvised explosive device (EID) from the suspect.

The suspect was tagged by police and military intelligence as a bomb or IED maker of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group. He was also ninth in the most wanted list for the fourth quarter of 2025.

The alleged bombmaker is now in the custody of the Palimbang Municipal Police Station and will be presented before the Regional Trial Court Branch 13 in Cotabato City, which issued the arrest warrants in 2021.

“This wanted person was arrested after a five-hour operation that started on Tuesday night. I commend our SAF personnel for their hard work and dedication to account for this person who was confirmed to be an IED-making expert,” said PNP chief Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

“This is a job well done. One less terrorist means a lot in our effort to ensure the safety of everybody,” he added.

The PNP said it is enhancing cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies in its campaign against high-value targets from big threat groups, especially in Mindanao. — JMA, GMA Integrated News