Soldiers cordon off area of armed group in Lanao Sur attacks

From GMA News (Feb 24): Soldiers cordon off area of armed group in Lanao Sur attacks

Government soldiers have already surrounded the area where members of a suspected new terrorist group in Mindanao have been hiding.

Armed Forces of the Philippine spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Paddilia told News To Go on Wednesday that the nameless armed group began to launch attacks in Lanao del Sur on Saturday,  leaving three soldiers dead ang six others wounded.

Padilla said that soldiers are closing in on the armed group, 40 of whose members were responsible for the attack on a military detachment in Barangay Bayabao in Butig town.

Citing a military source, Padilia said that members of the group are followers of Moro Islamic Liberation Front's 102nd Base Command head Edris Salindawan alias Abu Hanif.

The group is suspected to have links with international terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah.

Moreover, Padilla said security forces are coordinating with the MILF through a peace mechanism supervised by  an ad hoc committee.

A military report on Tuesday said three soldiers were killed while six others were wounded in the clashes that also killed at least 20 members of the rebel group.
"This is subject to verification," Padilla admitted earlier.

"The initial information from various sources is that around 20 enemies were killed and scores wounded."

"The motive of the attack remains unknown," ge added.

One of the fatalities, he said, was killed in an ambush on Tuesday morning and was among the troops sent to reinforce government forces in Butig.

Reinforcements were able to cordon off the enemies, whose number has swelled to more or less 80, Padilla said.

According to him, some 5,000 residents in areas covered by the operation fled their homes.

 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/556545/news/regions/soldiers-cordon-off-area-of-armed-group-in-lanao-sur-attacks