Forty-five people, including 42 terrorists, were killed
while 11 others were wounded as the government forces overran the enemy
stronghold in Lanao del Sur, a military official revealed Friday.
Maj. Felimon Tan Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom)
information officer, said the troops have captured the stronghold of the
terrorists before sunset Thursday in the municipality of Butig
Tan disclosed three of the 45 people killed were soldiers as
well as all of the 11 wounded.
Tan did not release the names of the slain and wounded
soldiers except to say they belong to the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade.
He said they received intelligence reports “from the ground”
that the ISIS-inspired terrorists suffered 42 fighters killed.
He said the troops have recovered high-powered firearms that
included: two Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers; two M-16 Armalite
rifles; and, a homemade calibre .50 rifle.
He said the offensive “continues until today” against the
terrorists “who are on the run.”
The fighting in Butig, Lanao del Sur erupted local
extremists assisted by foreign-looking terrorists who reportedly pledged
allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), attacked last
Saturday an Army detachment.
Last Feb. 23, Tan also reported the death of Omar Maute, the
head of the local terrorist organization, who spearheaded the attack on the
detachment of the 51st Infantry Battalion in Butig, Lanao Del Sur last Feb. 20.
An estimated 40 to 80 lawless elements took part in the raid
which lasted until early Feb. 21, along with Omar's younger brother.
Tan based this claim on intelligence reports which claimed
that the bandit leader was killed in the constant air and artillery strikes
against them.
The Mautes are believed to be allied to elements of the
Jemaah Islamiyah and have connections to a foreign terrorist neutralized in
2012.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=861013
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