3 more ‘terrorists’ slain as Lanao clashes continue

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Three more suspected terrorists have been killed in the continuous military operations against the Islamic Statelinked terror group Dawlah Islamiya in Munai, Lanao del Norte, the military reported yesterday.

The figure brought to six the number of terrorists killed since the clashes broke out in Barangay Ramain on Feb. 18.

The latest encounter occurred in Barangay Matampay on Wednesday and left three soldiers wounded, according to the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade (IB).

Six troopers of the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion were killed while four others were wounded during the first encounter.

The recent fatalities were killed in a pursuit operation against seven terrorists, who managed to flee during the first firefight, according to Brig. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., commander of the 103rd IB.

Troopers recovered an M16 rifle at the scene of the firefight.

The encounter erupted as the Armed Forces of the Philippines was paying tribute to soldiers slain in the firefight in Barangay Ramain and AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. was visiting those wounded.

BBM vows intensified fight vs terrorists

President Marcos has vowed to intensify the fight against terrorism as he paid tribute to the six soldiers killed in an earlier battle in Lanao del Norte.

“We salute the six soldiers who sacrificed their lives in an encounter to protect us from terrorists,” Marcos said in a video posted on YouTube yesterday.

“We will use the sadness that we feel for the sacrifices of our heroic soldiers as our strength to further our efforts to defeat terrorists, who pose danger to our people,” he added.

Marcos, commander-in-chief of the AFP, gave assurance that the heroism of the slain soldiers would not be forgotten.

“We will continue their fight and punish the enemies of peace. We promise their loved ones and the Filipino nation that we will let the people they left behind feel the love and the government’s recognition of the sacrifices they made,” he said.

The Dawlah Islamiyah is said to be operating in communities in the boundary of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.