SAF keeps battalion in Maguindanao Sur to fight extremists

COTABATO CITY – The elite Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has retained a battalion, composed of 500 troops, in Maguindanao del Sur to help in the government’s drive to disband Islamic State-aligned groups sowing terror in the province.

Col. John Michael Mangahis, Maguindanao del Sur police provincial director, said Monday the PNP-SAF deployment will greatly enhance the provincial police command’s security operations across the province’s 24 municipalities, particularly in the lairs of the terrorists Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Dawlah Islamiyah (DI).

“With 500 elite troopers and light armor vehicle support, the SAF’s presence ensures rapid deployment and tactical superiority against lawless elements,” Mangahis said in a statement.

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READ: More police units arrive in Maguindanao Sur to secure BARMM polls

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The SAF personnel were among the augmentation forces deployed to Maguindanao del Sur to help secure the historic Sept. 14 Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.

Mangahis stressed that SAF’s counter‑terrorism expertise provides a strong deterrent to threats, reinforcing stability in areas historically vulnerable to violence and disruption.

At least four municipalities in Maguindanao del Sur are known bailiwicks or areas of operation of the BIFF and DI, which the military designated as terrorist armed groups that repeatedly posed threats in the communities.

These are the contiguous towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi Ampatuan), Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, or the so-called “SPMS box” in the military’s operational parlance.

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Aside from the BIFF and DI, private armed groups that are engaged in rido (family feud) also pose threats to civilian communities.

Mangahis said the Maguindanao del Sur police provincial office and the SAF will jointly work to strengthen operational synergy against criminal groups in the area.

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“This partnership enhances command and control, expands ground coverage, and ensures coordinated responses to emerging challenges,” Mangahis said.

He added that “by combining local knowledge with SAF’s tactical expertise, the joint effort maximizes efficiency in safeguarding communities, securing vital installations, and protecting borders from sabotage and other forms of destruction.”

Mangahis said keeping SAF forces in Maguindanao del Sur symbolizes the government’s “unwavering commitment to peace, order, and public safety.”

He noted that residents can be confident that proactive measures are in place to protect families, schools, and communities, fostering an environment where progress and development can thrive under the shield of security.

In January 2015, SAF commandos successfully killed Malaysian terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” in Barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur, where the BIFF coddled him.

READ: Was Marwan’s death worth bargaining for Mindanao peace?

However, the SAF lost 44 troopers in the operation after clashing with the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in what was described as a “misencounter.”

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At least 18 MILF members and several civilians were killed in the fierce gun battle./coa