3 extremists slain as govt forces step up offensive

By FROILAN GALLARDO
Special Correspondent

THREE Daesh-inspired militants were killed in Maguindanao on Tuesday even as soldiers combed the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur searching for the remnants of the terror group who seized Marawi City in 2017.

Maj. Homer Estolas, spokesperson of the Army 6th Infantry Division, said the three militants were killed during a bombardment in preparation for a military assault in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao, Tuesday.

He said combined troops of the 33rd Infantry Battalion and 12th Special Forces Company, 5th Special Forces Battalion assaulted the militant stronghold after the artillery bombardment ended Tuesday noon.

Estolas said the troops later found the bodies of the three militants along with the firearms in Barangay Pusao, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao Tuesday afternoon.

Estolas said three M16 rifles, three improvised explosive devices, and six improvised grenades were recovered near the bodies.

“The bombardment was a preparatory move to soften the resistance of the militants before the actual operations began,” Estolas said.

Estolas said residents were unharmed after local barangays were forewarned of the assault so that villagers could take shelter in designated evacuation sites.

He said the militants belong to one faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led by Ismael Abubakar or Imam Bongos who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Estolas said the Biff faction is suspected to welcome foreign jihadists in its ranks.

Meanwhile, in Lanao del Sur, troops from two Army battalions are pursuing a band of 30 former Maute militants in Mount Malingao in the borders of Madamba and Madalum towns.

Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army 103rd Infantry Brigade said the militants fled to that direction after the troops captured their camp in Madalum town Nov. 22.

Cuerpo said the troops found 14 tents and personal belongings including the black Isis shirts popular among the Maute rebels.

“Based on the size of the tents and camp layout, we estimated their strength to be around 30,” Cuerpo said.

Cuerpo said the remnants of the Daesh-inspired Maute militants have been on the run since government troops killed their leaders, Abdullah and Omar Maute, during the 2017 siege in Marawi City.

Philippine Isis leader Isnilon Hapilon was killed along with Abdullah and Omar Maute during the Marawi siege.

Cuerpo said the remnants of the Maute group are now led by one “Zacaria” who replaced Owaidah Benito Marohombsar or Abu Dar who was killed early this year.

Marohombsar, an imam, was designated as successor to the Maute brothers and was considered to replace Hapilon as the Isis emir in Asia.