A DAWLAH Islamiya (DI) terror group member was killed, while another surrendered as the military intensified the offensive against them in the province of Lanao del Sur, officials said Thursday, May 6.
Brigadier General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the member of the Dawlah Islamiya, formerly known as the Maute Group, was killed in a clash around 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, in Kalungnan village, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.
Cuerpo said the troops recovered the remains of the slain DI member, whose identity remains unknown, and an M-16 armalite rifle while scouring the clash site after the firefight.
Another firefight ensued also in Kalungnan village and lasted for an hour and 49 minutes, as the pursuing troops caught the fleeing members of DI terror group who figured in the first clash, he added.
Cuerpo said the troops recovered war materiel, including improvised bomb-making components such as half kilo ammonium nitrate and two polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes cut during the clearing operation as the DI terror group members scampered to different directions.
Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said Mahid Dima Pasalawan alias Cardo, 22, surrendered and turned over a Garand rifle with ammunition to the 103rd Infantry Brigade troopers around 12:10 p.m. Wednesday in Bobo village, Piagapo.
Vinluan said Pasalawan admitted he was involved in the Battle of Marawi in 2017 and went into hiding after the conflict.
He said Pasalawan was placed under custodial debriefing to gather more information about him, his previous activities, and the Maute Group. (SunStar Zamboanga)