PNP keeps elite battalion in Maguindanao del Sur to counter IS-linked militants

COTABATO CITY — The Special Action Force (SAF), an elite unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has kept a battalion of 500 personnel stationed in Maguindanao del Sur to support the government's counter-extremism operations in the region. According to Col. John Michael Mangahis, provincial police director of Maguindanao del Sur, the deployment is aimed at helping dismantle Islamic State-aligned organizations that have been conducting terror activities throughout the province. The battalion's continued presence underscores the government's commitment to addressing the persistent security threat posed by militant groups in the predominantly Muslim province in Mindanao. Security operations in Maguindanao del Sur have intensified in recent years as authorities work to prevent extremist organizations from consolidating territorial control and recruiting additional members. The SAF deployment represents part of a broader counter-terrorism strategy being implemented across the Bangsamoro region.