TWO suspected members of a Islamic State (Isis)-inspired terror group were killed in a shootout in Sultan Kudarat early Monday, November 19.

Police Regional Office-Soccsksargen Director Eliseo Tam Rasco said joint elements of the Tacurong City Police Station, Isulan Municipal Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), and the Philippine Army killed the two still unidentified terrorists in a law enforcement operation conducted around 2:30 a.m. Monday along Kapingkong road, Barangay EJC Montilla, Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat.

The two terrorists refused to pass through a checkpoint in Isulan and fled toward Tacurong City, where they were intercepted in another checkpoint established by the RMFB.

Rasco said the two terrorists fired shots at police officers manning the checkpoint, resulting in a shootout that killed the two men.

Rasco said that prior to the operation, the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Police Office received an information that an improvised explosive device will be transported within Tacurong City and Isulan.

Recovered from the slain terrorists were one nine-millimeter berretta pistol bearing the name of the Philippine National Police, one KG9 and assorted ammunition, one improvised explosive device, and one black Isis flag.

The Sultan Kudarat explosive and ordnance division team successfully disrupted the improvised explosive device around 4:30 a.m. Monday, November 19. (SunStar Philippines)