PAGADIAN CITY – Government troops were deployed Friday to the Muslim province of Lanao del Sur following fierce fighting between pro-ISIS militants and soldiers that wounded 3 infantrymen, officials said.
Capt. Clint Antipala, a spokesman for the 1st Infantry Division, said the fighting erupted in Sultan Dumalondong town where two army battalions – the 55th and 82nd Infantries – clashed with a group of militants under Abu Dar, who was one of the leaders that laid siege in Marawi City in 2017.
He said fighting broke out on Thursday after troops tracked down Dar’s group on a remote village in the town.
Antipala said there were reports that an undetermined number of militants were slain in the clash. “There are enemy casualties, but we still do not know how many were dead or wounded from the side of Abu Dar’s group. Pursuit operation is going on,” he said.
Col. Romeo Brawner, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, also called on the villagers to stay vigilant as troops were tracking down the militants. “We calling on the public not to panic and not to evacuate because we have everything under control,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, said the clash was the result of the government’s relentless campaign against the militants. “The armed encounter is the result of our relentless campaign against Maute-ISIS remnants and Abu Dar group.”
While the military operation is going on, 2 militants – one of then a teenager – also surrendered to the 49th Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. Edgar Allan Villanueva, in the town of Butig, also in Lanao del Sur.
The duo admitted fighting security forces during the Marawi siege that left hundreds of militants and soldiers dead and wounded. They are currently being interrogated at an undisclosed military base. (Mindanao Examiner)
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