Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESTMINCOM: Local terrorist neutralized, war materials seized in Maguindanao del Sur clash

Monday, October 2, 2023

WESTMINCOM: Local terrorist neutralized, war materials seized in Maguindanao del Sur clash

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Sep 27, 2023): Local terrorist neutralized, war materials seized in Maguindanao del Sur clash

Local terrorist neutralized, war materials seized in Maguindanao del Sur clash

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City – September 27, 2023

A local terrorist group member was killed in an encounter in Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

While conducting a clearing operation at Purok 2, Poblacion, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, troops of the 40th Infantry Battalion encountered more or less five Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group members early morning Saturday. The firefight lasted about two hours, after which the enemy withdrew toward the northeast.

Operating troops pursued the fleeing enemies, resulting in another armed confrontation at Sitio Mayan, Labu-Labu II, Datu Hoffer, same province, at about 7 a.m., same day. The 20-minute firefight resulted in the death of one DI-HG member and the recovery of assorted war materials. No casualty was reported on the government side.

Soldiers scoured the encounter site and recovered the cadaver of the slain DI-HG member, identified as Mermo Mling.

Also recovered were the following war materials: one M14 rifle, one M79 rifle, one Cal .45 Sub-Machine Gun, two improvised explosive devices (IED), one magazine for Cal .45 SMG, one Baofeng commercial radio, two analog phones, one green shirt, and one pair of slippers.

Operating troops continue the decisive military operations in the area.

“We once again urge the remaining members of the different threat groups to join us in the peaceful resolution of conflicts. It is better to win peace without loss of life,” Western Mindanao Command Chief, Maj. Gen. Steve Crespillo said.

The WestMinCom Commander said that the armed forces remain steadfast in countering the terroristic activities of the remnants of the different threat groups in the central and western parts of Mindanao.