Authorities anticipating retaliations for bomber's arrest

SULTAN KUDARAT --- Authorities are anticipating retaliations by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for the arrest Saturday of a key member implicated in two bomb attacks in Isulan town last year.

The 27-year-old Tutin Kuti, a Maguindanaon, is now detained at the Isulan municipal police office.

He is to be prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the August 28 and September 3, 2018 bombings in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat that killed 5 people and injured more than 60 others, many of them minors.

Lt. Colonel Junny Buenacosa of the Isulan municipal police said Monday Kuti was arrested over the weekend in Barangay Madi in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao by combined police and Army agents.

Kuti voluntarily yielded when he was shown a warrant for his arrest issued by a court.

Buenacosa also confirmed that Kuti is now clamped down in their detention facility, guarded by combat-ready personnel of the Isulan municipal police.

The BIFF has a reputation for attacking jails to spring out members detained for criminal offenses and involvement in terror attacks.

Lt. Col. Aldrin Gonzalez, spokesman of the Police Regional Office-12, said Saturday they are grateful to vigilant residents of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat for helping locate Kuti in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

He said intelligence agents and uniformed personnel of units under the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division also helped in the operation that led to his arrest.

Lt. Col. Roberto Breboneria, spokesman of 6^th ID, said units of the division have tightened security in public places, bus terminals and markets to forestall possible BIFF attacks for the arrest of Kuti.