Enemy fatalities in Lanao del Sur ops now 3 —military

The military on Wednesday said another suspected terrorist was killed during Tuesday's operations in Maguing, Lanao del Sur, bringing the total enemy fatalities to three with one reported killed on the government side.

In a statement, the military said the 51st Infantry Battalion (IB) and 55IB encountered more or less 40 suspected members of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group under Abu Zacariah.

“The heavy gunfight resulted in the deaths of three Daulah Islamiyah members and one soldier. Four other soldiers incurred wounds during the clash,” the Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) said.

According to the military, casualties were immediately extricated from the site for medical attention. Their identities are withheld pending notifications to their next of kin, it added.

At around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, government forces launched air strikes targeting the supposed terrorists, which was followed by a three-hour firefight from 7:25 a.m.

Recovered were two caliber 50 machine guns; a caliber 30 machine gun; an M16, an AK47, an M14, and a Garand rifles; three rocket-propelled grenade launchers; 22 improvised explosive devices; 100 rounds of caliber 50 ammunition; a link for caliber 30; 150 rounds 7.62mm cartridge; 50 rounds of caliber 40 ammunition; a caliber 40 magazine; four M14 magazines; several anti-personnel mines and other components; and enemy personal belongings.

According to Wesmincom’s public information office chief Major Andrew Linao, the military's two air assets used a total of 12 bombs when they executed a bomb run against the targets.

Civic organization Moro Consensus Group chairperson Drieza Lininding, meanwhile, questioned the military's action, saying it was done without informing nearby communities.

He also raised concerns on the standard operating procedure of the military in employing air strike and asked if the presence of lawless elements were already confirmed before the bomb run.

Wesmincom chief Lieutenant General Alfredo Rosario Jr. called on the residents in the province  to stay calm as the military conducts such operations.

“To all the peace-loving citizens of Lanao del Sur, just remain calm and allow us to do our job. Your armed forces will not allow these terrorists to inflict harm on your respective communities. We will not stop until these lawless elements are completely crushed,” he said. —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News