by Teofilo Garcia, Jr./PNA
Government troops are pursuing remnants of the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired Maute group following a firefight in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, a top military official said Tuesday.
Col. Romeo Brawner Jr., the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the firefight ensued around 4:10 p.m. Monday in Pagayawan, Lanao del Sur when troops on combat operation clashed with some 25 Maute group remnants.
Brawner said the clash resulted in the death of three people — two soldiers and a Maute group follower, while another soldier was injured.
Brawner, who is also the Joint Task Force Ranao commander, declined to release the identities of the slain and wounded soldiers.
He said the Maute group remnants fled and are being pursued by the troops.
“We launched an operation against the Maute group the other day (two days ago) and we were able to catch them yesterday afternoon (Monday),” he said.
He said the Maute remnants are currently headed by Owaida Marohombsar alias Abu Dar, who surfaced following the death of the Maute leaders, brothers Abdullah and Omar Maute in 2017.
The Maute brothers were killed sometime in October of 2017 during the Marawi battle that broke out on May 23 of the same year.
