The 6th Infantry Division identified the death of new Amir and Leader of DI as Asim Karinda also known as Abu Azim.
Karinda, who is also a trained bomb maker and fabricator, replaced Salahuddin Hassan as Amir and leader of the terrorist group after the latter was killed by military forces on October 29, 2021 in an encounter in Talayan, Maguindanao.
Hassan was also a trained fabricator of improvised explosive devices.
Major General Juvymax R. Uy, Commander of Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry Division, confirmed the death of Karinda alongside with 4 other members of the terrorist group.
“The recent armed clash with the Daulah Islamiya Terrorist Group only shows that your security forces are persistent and committed to ensure the safety of our communities and of the Filipino People,” Uy said.
Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Banaag, the commanding officer of 6th Infantry Battalion whose forces clashed with the group of Karinda, disclosed that the firefight happened around 1:30 in the morning of December 2, 2021 which lasted for an hour.
“Our ground forces recovered the abandoned lifeless bodies of Azim and his 4 followers after the firefight,” Banaag said, who also reported that the government forces did not suffer any casualty.
The other neutralized DI members were identified as Fahad Salipada alias Naz, known as the close-in security of Salahudin Hasan; Hamsallah Ganoy Salangani; Salah Salipada; and alias Tatoks.
The remains of the 5 DI members were turned-over to local officials for proper burial and disposition.
It can be recalled that the former Amir of Daulah Islamiya, Salahudin Hasan, was neutralized during a military operation in Talayan, Maguindanao on October 29, 2021 along with his wife, Jehana Minbida, who was also identified as the Finance Officer of Daulah Islamiyah.
On December 1, 2021, the son of DI Sub-leader Hasan Indal, identified as alias Adsam, was also neutralized by JTF Central forces in Brgy Ganta, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao.
Meanwhile, almost 300 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Daulah Islamiyah returned to the fold of the law in January of this year.
There were also reports that a number of violent extremists continue to send surrender fillers in response to the call for peaceful reconciliation of the local government units and military forces in Maguindanao together with the effectiveness of the AGILA-HAVEN Program of the Province of Maguindanao.
“I continue to call on the remaining members of the BIFF and DI to surrender and return to the folds of the law,” Uy said.
He said the government is willing and ready to help them live normal and peaceful lives with their family.
“Let us not waste this opportunity and instead work together for the sake of the next generation,” Uy further said.
Photos: 6th ID