3 Filipinos with Suspected IS Links Nabbed in Manila

Police arrested three suspected Filipino militants from a group associated with Islamic State during separate raids in the Manila area Friday, authorities said.

The suspects were members of Dawlah Islamiyah Ranao, a militant organization from the south with links to Muslim extremists who occupied the southern city of Marawi two years ago, said Lt. Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay, head of the police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Philippine capital.

“They are still under investigation but based on our initial information, they are support personnel for the ISIS based here,” said Ibay, using another acronym for the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

Assorted firearms and rebel paraphernalia, including a black Islamic State flag were seized during operations in the Manila suburbs of Parañaque city and Rizal, police said. But it was not clear if the suspects were planning an attack in the capital, just days ahead of nationwide midterm polls scheduled for Monday.

The suspects were identified as Cairoden Abolkhair, Tagoranao Dimaro Sarip Jr, and Norodin Manalinding.

Full story: BenarNews

Mark Navales
Cotabato City, Philippines. Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Cotabato City.