MANILA, Philippines. Philippine troops successfully neutralized nine suspected Muslim militants, two of whom were identified as key figures involved in a bombing last month that claimed the lives of four Christian worshippers, according to a statement by the army on Saturday.
In the operation conducted on Thursday against the Dawlah Islamiyah, a small group affiliated with the Islamic State, in the hinterland village of Taporug near Piagapo town in Lanao del Sur province, four army scout rangers sustained minor injuries, stated army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala.
The clashes occurred over a series of shootouts from Thursday to Friday, initiated after villagers tipped off the military about the presence of approximately 15 militants. The surviving militants managed to escape, and pursuit operations are currently underway.
Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, an army infantry division commander, revealed that the militants retreated from intense fire exchanges until they were cornered in a rural house. Despite attempting to fight back, they were eventually subdued.
A statement from the army urged the community to remain vigilant and collaborate with authorities in eliminating the threat posed by local terrorist groups.
Eight of the nine bodies have been identified, including Saumay Saiden and Abdul Hadi, suspects in the December 3 bombing that targeted Christian worshippers during Sunday Mass in a state-run university gymnasium in southern Marawi city, as reported by Col. Dema-ala.
Hadi was alleged to have assembled the bomb, consisting of a 60 mm mortar round and a rifle grenade, according to police investigators.
A post-battle video, shared with The Associated Press by a government intelligence official, displayed the nine bodies lying near rural huts surrounded by banana trees as army officers conducted examinations.
Gen. Romeo Brawner, the military chief of staff, emphasized that the operation sets a precedent, asserting that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not tolerate those who endanger the lives of the people. He vowed that the remaining individuals responsible will face the full force of the military.
The southern Philippine region of Mindanao, the homeland of minority Muslims, has been a backdrop for decades-old separatist rebellions. The Marawi city bombing in December marked the bloodiest insurgency-related violence under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who attributed the attack to “foreign terrorists.” The incident heightened security alerts across the country during the Christmas season.
While the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed a peace deal with the government in 2014, smaller armed groups like the Dawlah Islamiyah have rejected the pact, persisting with bombings and attacks while evading government offensives.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
