A FOLLOWER of the Dawlah Islamiya was killed while assorted war materials were recovered by the troops following a clash in the province of Maguindanao del Sur, the military reported Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

Major General Steve Crespillo, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the clash happened at Purok 2 in Poblacion village, Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday, September 23.

Crespillo identified the slain terrorist as Mermo Mling, a follower of the Dawlah Islamiya (DI)-Hassan group.

Crespillo said the troops of the 40th Infantry Battalion (IB) were conducting security operation when they clashed with the group of DI-Hassan Group early Saturday, September 23.

The clash lasted for two hours, after which the enemy withdrew toward the northeast direction.

Another clash ensued around 7 a.m. on the same day (Saturday, September 23) as the 40IB troops pursued and caught up with fleeing Dawlah Islamiya terrorists at Sitio Mayan in Labu-Labu II village, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur.

Crespillo said the firefight lasted for 20 minutes that resulted to the death of Mling and the recovery of assorted war materials. No one among the troops ere either killed or wounded during the second clash.

He said the recovered war materials include the following: one M-14 rifle; one M-79 grenade launcher; one Thompson Sub-Machine Gun with ammunition; two improvised explosive devices (IEDs); one two-way radio transceiver; two analog phones, one green shirt; and, a pair of slippers.

“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,” Crespillo said.

He said the military remain steadfast in countering the terroristic activities of the remnants of the different threat groups in the central and western parts of Mindanao.(SunStar Zamboanga)