Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recently captured Kumander Bayawak of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao del Sur.
Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, chief of the CIDG in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), identified the suspect as 65-year-old Abunawas Ibad Damiog of Barangay Alongan, Datu Piang town.
Damiog, also known as Kumander Bayawak, aged 65, faces serious charges including murder, attempted murder, and arson, as well as violating the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
A .45 caliber pistol was also seized from his possession.
“Armed with search warrants, CIDG operatives arrested Damiog near his home in Datu Piang. He was armed with a .45-caliber pistol when arrested around 1 p.m.,” Huesca said in an interview on Thursday.
He ranks as the third most wanted individual in BARMM.
Reports from various news outlets underscore the severity of Damiog’s alleged crimes.
He’s accused of involvement in an attack on Datu Piang in December 2020, which included setting fire to a police car and firing at the local Catholic Church.
Additionally, Kumander Bayawak allegedly led a BIFF assault on an Army detachment in Barangay Meta, Datu Unsay, resulting in the death of a soldier and injuries to two others.
His ties to BIFF founder Ameril Umra Kato highlight his influence within the organization.
However, Damiog surrendered to the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Ampatuan, Maguindanao Sur, in 2021, along with four other BIFF members.
This arrest demonstrates Philippine authorities’ commitment to maintaining peace and security by dismantling terrorist networks and safeguarding communities.
At present, Kumander Bayawak is detained at the CIDG-BARMM detention facility awaiting court appearance to answer the charges filed against him.