7 bandits killed in Sultan Kudarat clash

SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines - Combatants of the Philippine Marine Corps shot dead seven bandits led by a notorious commander in an encounter Thursday morning in Barangay Butril in Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat province.

Sources from the police and barangay officials confirmed the incident, which erupted when the gunmen, led by Jaafar Maguid, opened fire on approaching combatants of the 1st Marine Brigade, dispatched to check on their excessive mulcting of “protection money” from local folks.

Maguid, wanted for a string of heinous offenses, including cattle theft, extortion and for protecting local drug rings, has also been interfering on the affairs of duly-constituted barangay governments in areas where he and his men operate.

Seven of Maguid’s followers were killed in the ensuing encounter, according to sources from the municipal peace and order councils in Palimbang and in nearby Lebak and Kalamansig towns, also in Sultan Kudarat.

The Marines sent to validate complaints by villagers on abuses by Maguid, also known as Commander Tokboy, were marching towards Sitio Sinapingan in Barangay Butril when they were attacked from different directions, precipitating a running firefight that lasted for hours.

Barangay folks said Maguid and some 40 followers scampered away after sensing that the Marines were almost to surround them.

Witnesses said the fleeing gunmen carried at least four wounded companions as they fled in haste.

Pursuing combatants of the Marine Special Operations Group and the 6th Marine Battalion recovered assorted firearms and ammunition Maguid and his followers had left along their escape routes.

Some of the recovered firearms were heavily stained with human blood.