TWO Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorists were killed, while two of their wounded comrades were captured in an armed encounter with government troops in Maguindanao del Sur, the military said Monday, June 23, 2025.
Brigadier General Edgar Catu, 601st Infantry Brigade (603Bde) commander, said the clash happened shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, June 22, in Libutan village, Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur.
He said the clash broke out after the troops of the 6th Infantry Battalion (6IB), 33IB, and other operating units of the 603Bde launched decisive military operations when they received reports that the DI-Hassan group terrorists "were gathering in the area and planning to commit violence by planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in populated areas.
Killed during the clash were Tahir Salim Suweb, 41, a resident of Baka village, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte; and Benladin Adi Kamid, 23, a resident of Macasampen, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur.
Wounded and captured were Junjun Kayogen Leosen, 37, from Barangay Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur; and Rasul Mendoza Kariman, 31, a resident of Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur.
Catu said the troops brought the two wounded to separate public hospitals for medical attention.
Recovered from the clash site were two M16A1 rifles, a caliber .45 pistol, bomb-making components, an unexploded ordnance (UXO), various cellular phones, a Bushnell monocular scope, a broken bipod, communication equipment, and a female clutch bag containing fake identification cards.
Catu has ordered his troops to intensify the pursuit operations against the other members of the DI-Hassan Group, who fled at the height of the clash.
"We will not stop pursuing the remaining members of this group," Catu said.
He said the DI-Hassan Group members were involved in the killing of three businessmen from Batangas, who were found dead in Nabundas village, Shariff Saydona Mustapha on May 30 and other series of robberies and killings of civilians to meet their logistical needs.
He said they are also the main suspects in the ambush "of our troops in Datu Hoffer in March last year, which killed four of our soldiers."
Major General Donald Gumiran, 6th Infantry Division commander, lauded the prompt response of the troops as a reason to prevent the local terrorist's sabotage plan against the people of Central Mindanao.
"Once again, we have saved many innocent civilians' lives. With the prompt response of our soldiers, the local terrorists' plan to sow violence in this peaceful part of Mindanao was thwarted," Gumiran said. (SunStar Zamboanga)