MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)–Following the successful overrunning of a Dawlah-Islamiyah troop in the municipality of Maguing in the province of Lanao del Sur, the 103rd Infantry Brigade bared that more than 40 war paraphernalia and seven body counts of combatants were recovered from the encounter.
Brigade commanding officer BGen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II detailed that it was on Tuesday, March 1, when they conducted combat operations in the hinterlands of Maguing town upon knowing and confirming the conglomeration of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist militants composed of the ISIS-Lanao del Sur group and Hassan group from Maguindanao who all were plotting and training in preparation for the upcoming significant days.
“May information kami na sinasabi na may gagawin sila during Ramadhan and elections kaya nagconduct tayo ng operations when we knew that they were there at positive namin na identify na nandoon sila,” he said in an interview.
[We had information telling us that they will do something during Ramadhan and elections that is why we conducted operations when we knew and positively identified that they were there.]
Cuerpo shared that their targets were not camping out in a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) area but just near its community, approximately less than one kilometer away with no civilians around during that time.
With the presence of the combatants in the location proved, the commanding officer resorted to close air support early morning of March 1 and lasted until 4:30 PM of the same day with the advancement of other troops including 5th, 51st, and 55th Infantry Battalions.
“Immediately after that, may nakuha na agad na kaagad na tatlong body counts and pitong firearms. The next day, pinasuyod ko sila, ito na ang tumambad, more than 40 different kinds of firearms at ibang mga gamit pa,” said Cuerpo presenting the war remnants.
[Immediately after that, three body counts and seven firearms were then seized. The next day, I directed surveillance. These are what have shown, more than 40 different kinds of firearms and other more things.]
Among those retrieved were improvised explosive devices (IEDs), anti-personnel mine, ammunition, more than 40 high-powered firearms, and even drugs alleged to be shabu of five kilos and the found dried leaves to be marijuana.
As of March 2, Cuerpo said they already tallied at least seven body counts of ISIS members while the army troops had one casualty and four wounded men now taken care of by the medical team in the brigade. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
Photo caption:
More than 40 high-powered firearms and other more ammunition and mines are recovered by the government troops after their successful overrunning of the ISIS terrorists in the municipality of Maguing, Lanao del Sur March 1, 2022. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
