ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two people, includ
ing an alleged Maute group member, were killed in a clash in the province of Lanao del Norte, the military reported Monday.
Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao) commander, said the firefight happened Sunday at the boundary of Barangays Malimbato and Dimayon, Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte.
Murillo, Army’ 1st Infantry Division commander, identified the slain Maute group member as Hadji Rasol Mambuay alias Mercury.
Murillo said the clash, which lasted for 10 minutes, ensued while the joint team of lawmen launched an operation to arrest Dianalan Dimanatang Imam, alias Papayungan, and Mambuay, whose group was involved in the 2017 Marawi siege.
The firefight resulted in the death of Mambuay and a soldier while Imam and the rest of their followers fled the scene.
Murillo said the joint team of soldiers, police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents recovered from the clash site one M-16 Armalite rifle, a grenade, two units of radio transceivers, one short magazine and bomb-making materials.
The identity of the slain soldier, who belongs to the Army 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, was not released.
“Our deepest condolences to the loved ones of our soldier and killed Maute remnant,” Murillo said.
“Rest assured that the heroism and sacrifices of our soldier will not be in vain. We will continue to pursue the remnants of Dualah Islamiyah-Maute terrorist,” he added. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
