At least 8 bandits killed, several others wounded as military captures bandit stronghold in Maguindanao

(Eagle News)–At least eight members of the Islamic State-inspired Daulah Islamiyah were killed after the military captured a bandit stronghold in Maguindanao.

6th Infantry Division commander Major General Cirilito Sobejana said 10 other bandits, including a Daulah Islamiyah sub-commander, Salahudin Hassan of the Toraype group, were also wounded in the operation in the camp in Sultan sa Barongis on Saturday, Feb. 2.

Hassan was reportedly a student of  Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, the Indonesian bomb-maker who was killed in a police operation in Mamasapano in 2015 that led to the deaths of 44 Special Action Force members.

Sobejana said the military was able to locate the camp following information provided by a Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter brigade commander, who was captured by authorities on Friday, Feb. 1.

According to Sobejana, those in the camp were Abu Toraype himself, the leader of a BIFF group, and several foreigners who included two Indonesians, a Singaporean, and two Middle Eastern-looking men.

Sobejana said the military was still checking if Toraype and the foreigners were among those killed when government security forces dropped a bomb in the area.

Government security forces have further  intensified operations against terrorists after the twin blasts at a Jolo, Sulu cathedral that left at least 21 dead.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said that based on sources, an Indonesian couple who wanted to “serve as an example” to Filipinos to become suicide bombers carried out the suicide bombings, assisted by local terrorists.

He said the bombings were a “project” of  Hatib Hadjan Sawadjaan, whom Islamic State recognizes as the leader of terrorists in the country after Isnilon Hapilon was killed by government security forces in Marawi.

Año said also involved was alias “Kamah,” commander of the Abu Sayyaf’s Ajang-Ajang group.