A SOLDIER was killed while a policeman was wounded in separate clashes between government forces and suspected members of the Maute group in Butig, Lanao del Sur, a military official said Tuesday, December 6.
Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) spokesperson Filemon Tan Jr., said the soldier was killed in a clash around 1 p.m., Monday, December 5, in Butig, Lanao del Sur.
He did not release the identity of the slain soldier except that he was a member of the Army’s 1st Scout Ranger Battalion.
The military official said the troops were on combat operations when they clashed with around 20 members of the Maute group.
Authorities recovered a rocket-propelled grenade, ammunitions and a steel chainsaw after the encounter.
While the policeman was wounded in a shootout that ensued around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 6, at the residence of Farhana Maute, the mother of the founder of the Maute group.
Tan said the joint military and police forces carried out joint law enforcement operation through a search warrant when the shootout broke out.
He said the troops have recovered a firearm and several war and explosive materials at the residence of the elder Maute.
Tan adderd the Maute group suffered casualties including 63 dead and 17 wounded as of Tuesday, December 6.
On the government side, troops suffered one casualty and 30 wounded in action.
He said the focused military operation will continue to neutralize the Maute group. (Sunnex)