5 lawless group members killed in clash

GOVERNMENT troops have neutralized five lawless group members and seized firearms following a gunfight in Maguindanao, the military reported Monday, February 21, 2022.

Lieutenant General Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the gunfight happened on the evening of Saturday, February 19, in Kauran village, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Rosario said prior to the gunfight, the 40th Infantry battalion backed by militiamen established a checkpoint after they received a report of a robbery hold-up of a convenience store with a restaurant in Kauran village.

While manning a checkpoint, the troops clashed with a group of armed men aboard a minivan, according to Rosario.

The troops recovered the cadavers of the five slain armed lawless group members and two caliber .45 pistols, two empty magazines for caliber .45, and one minivan while scouring the clash site.

“We will continue to operate to quell armed lawless groups in our area of operation,” said Major General Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force-Central commander.

“Our campaign against armed groups will be relentless in order to minimize the atrocities and attain a just and lasting peace here in Mindanao,” Rosario added. (SunStar Zamboanga)