A MEMBER of the Daulah Islamiyah was killed in a clash with government forces in the Province of Maguindanao, the military reported Saturday, July 3, 2021.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central troops were conducting focused military operation when they chanced some 30 followers of the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group led by Salahuddin Hassan at noontime Friday, July 2, in Salman village, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Vinluan said the firefight lasted for about 30 minutes that resulted in the death of a follower of Hassan, while the rest of the group scampered in different directions.

Major General Juvymax Uy, JTF-Central commander, said the slain Daulah Islamiyah follower was identified as Muslimin Kulas Tagal, based on the postal and voter’s identification (ID) cards recovered at the possession of the latter.

Uy said aside from Tagal’s remains, the troops also recovered one 5.56-millimeter empty long magazine, one civilian backpack, two cellular phones with charger, one pocket wifi, one postal ID, one voter’s ID, one hammock, one wallet with P500, one bandolier, one laminated sack, two kilograms rice, assorted clothes, and medicines.

Vinluan commended the JTF-Central for their untiring dedication to their duties.

He further encouraged them to press on until armed groups are all dismantled. (SunStar Zamboanga)