10 terrorists slain in Lanao Sur clash

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Ten suspected members of the terrorist organization Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group were killed in a firefight in Marantao, Lanao del Sur before dawn yesterday.

The encounter broke out as a team of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade (103IB) and the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) were about to serve an arrest warrant on the suspects including an alleged key official of the terror group.

The team launched the operation at around 1 a.m. in Barangay Banga-Pantar, targeting Amerol Mangoranca and his deputy, Benjie Amir, according to Col. Roden Orbon, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command.

Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran said the suspects opened fire at the arresting team, triggering an encounter that resulted in the death of Mangoranca and Amir as well as eight others including four women.

Aside from Mangoranca and Amir, the military identified the other fatalities as Fahmi Aminodin, Mohaimen Aragon, Sohaile Bato, Nahara Khairaya Hamim, Jamail Ibrahim, an alias Polindan and two women, whose names were not immediately available.

No member of the government security forces was wounded or killed in the firefight.

Aside from the bodies of the fatalities, the team recovered four rifles, ammunition, an improvised explosive device and bomb paraphernalia at the scene of the firefight.

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said Mangoranca and his group had standing arrest warrants for multiple murder, homicide, frustrated homicide, kidnapping, robbery and serious illegal detention.

The fatalities were reportedly behind an ambush in Munai, Lanao del Norte in January, in which four soldiers were killed and two others wounded.

Brig. Gen. Billy dela Rosa, chief of the 103IB, said the death of Mangoranca and his followers is a major blow to terrorist activities in Lanao.

Dela Rosa vowed to intensify military operations in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, to ensure the safety of communities and prevent the resurgence of extremist groups.

The military said Mangoranca was among those who planned a bomb attack on the Mindanao State University in Marawi in December 2023.

Maj. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo, chief of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force ZamPeLan, said the death of the terrorists was not just a tactical success, noting that the Maute group laid siege to Marawi nine years ago.

“It is justice served for every fallen soldier, grieving family and community that suffered under terror including victims of the Munai ambush. Our forces have struck a blow, and we will continue forward until peace is obtained,” Barroquillo said. — Emmanuel Tupas, Gerry Lee Gorit