07 Oct 746 MILF Troopers Unites With Gov’t Forces to End Illegal Drug Trade in Cotabato
To boost operations and end drug trading in the country, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have joined forces.
The MILF and AFP are assigned to pursue syndicates behind the increasing number of narcotics in Central Mindanao despite the unsealed peace deal.
Commander of the 602nd Brigade based in Carmen, Cotabato, Colonel Noly Samarita stated on Wednesday, October 5, “There are 746 Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) mostly from 118th MILF Base Command helping us in tracking these enemy armed groups hiding in Liguasan Marsh.”
Samarita cited the lost command group headed by Moks Masgal alias Commander Madrox who deals in illegal activities including the narco trade.
Government forces conducted a large-scale operation against the Madrox group on August 14 yet failed to arrest him. The forces’ movements were discovered, and an ambush was organized which caused the death of three soldiers. The group flees to the marshland of Liguasan at the border of Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.
Samarita said, “The troops came back today big time, this time with MILF troopers and we were successful in arresting one of the suspects of the ambush, the son of Madrox, early morning today.”
The suspect was identified as Kamarudin Masgal, 21 years old, one of the suspects behind the ambush that killed government troopers. Masgal was arrested at main suspect’s old house. Nine individuals were also investigated for drug use and trading which others already admitted. They were all followers of Commander Madrox.
The joint forces were urged to navigate the wide area of Liguasan Marsh at night using boats to pinpoint the possible position of the targets as the manhunt resumes as of posting time.
According to Samarita, the operation is entitled as a “confidence operation versus illegal drugs.”
MILF would issue an official statement in the next few hours, MILF’s military spokesperson said.
News Source: GMA News
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