Ansar Al-Khilafa's new leader nabbed in South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY – Lawmen arrested on Tuesday the new leader of the Ansar Al-Khilafa Philippines who assumed leadership of the group after the death of its founder last week in a shootout with police.

Abdullah Nilong, also known as Ali, was cornered in Polomolok town in South Cotabato by agents of different units of the Police Regional Office-12 based in General Santos City.

Also arrested in the operation were Nilong's brother Zaidon and another follower, initially identified as Rebski Dumat, Superintendent Romeo Galgo Jr., spokesman of PRO-12, said.

Sources from Army and police intelligence units said Nilong has just assumed leadership of the Khilafa group following last week's death of its founder, Mohammad Jaafar Maguid, in a brief encounter with lawmen in a beach resort in Kiamba town in Sarangani.

Galgo said seven companions of Nilong managed to escape before policemen could surround their hideout in Polomolok.

The Khilafa, which first established a camp in Barangay Butril in the seaside Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat, operates in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

The group is using the black ISIS flag as its revolutionary banner.

Maguid, also known as "Commander Tokboy," and his followers were driven away from Palimbang in late 2015 by combined personnel of PRO-12 and the 1st Marine Brigade.

Seven members of the group were killed when they engaged in a gunfight the policemen and Marines while approaching their lair from different directions.

The arrest of Nilong and his two followers was preceded by an encounter also last week between PRO-12 agents and a Sudanese Khilafa member, Abu Naila, in Maasim town in Sarangani.

Abu Naila was an expert in handling and fabrication of improvised explosive devices, according to investigators.