Operating forces from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) in Carmen, Cotabato, neutralized the North Cotabato bus blast mastermind and three of his men in a manhunt operation on Saturday, January 15, 2022.
According to Maj. Gen. Juvymax R. Uy, Joint Task Force Central and 6ID Commander, the mastermind has been identified as Norodin Hassan alias Andot, the known Emir for Military Affairs of the Daulah Islamiya Hassan Group.
A 7.62mm M14 rifle, one cal. 30 M1 Garand rifle, several rounds of ammunition and magazines of various calibers, analog cellphones, solar panels, ICOM radios, and other subversive documents of high intelligence value were also seized from the neutralized suspects by 6ID forces.
On January 11, 2022, a bus in Aleosan, North Cotabato was rocked by an improvised explosive device, killing a five-year-old child and injuring six other passengers.
Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., Army Commanding General, praised 6ID personnel for their operational victories against threat organizations operating in Central Mindanao.
“Rest assured, the command is committed to enhancing the skills and competencies of our soldiers to enable them to effectively deal with threats posed by extremists and other threat groups in the country,” the CGPA remarked.