MARAWI City— Army troops clashed with a band of Daesh-inspired Maute gunmen in a remote town in Lanao del Sur on Thursday, leaving six people dead, including two civilians caught in the crossfire.
Task Force Ranao deputy commander Col. Romeo Brawner said the encounter took place in Barangay Sumalindao in the remote town of Sultan Dumalondong in Lanao del Sur.
Brawner said the clash between the soldiers and the 10-man band of terrorists left one soldier and three gunmen killed.
He said two civilians also died in the crossfire.
“TF Ranao wishes to convey its condolences to the families of the civilians caught in the cross fire. It was very unfortunate,” Brawner said.
Task Force Ranao identified two of the three gunmen killed as Mubarak Manalao, the leader, and a certain Papao Ambao.
Brawner withheld the name of the lone casualty from the government pending the notification of his family.
He said soldiers recovered two M16 rifles and ammunition; a cal. 45 pistol; 17 mobile phones; two tablets; an Icom radio and a rifle scope.
The encounter took place as the joint government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panels were in the Mindanao State University in Marawi City.
The Daesh-Inspired Maute group and a radical faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have opposed the peace deal forged by the MILF and the government.
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