Mindanao Armed Conflict

COTABATO CITY --- Soldiers on Saturday seized four firearms left by members of a local terrorist group spotted in a secluded village in Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur who scampered away when they noticed soldiers approaching their location from three directions.

Army Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the 6^th Infantry Division, told reporters Sunday the firearms were left by men who scampered away when they noticed the personnel of the Army’s 90^th Infantry Battalion approaching their location in Barangay Galakit in Pagalungan from three directions.

COTABATO CITY – A lawmaker has offered P100,000 reward for anyone who provide information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects behind the murder of two village chairpersons of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat this year.

Rep. Horacio P. Suansing Jr of Sultan Kudarat second congressional district said the vital information may be relayed to the Lebak Municipal Police Station through mobile number 0995-885-5413.

The vital information includes the name, location and description of physical attributes of the perpetrators.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - NASAWI na sa ospital ang isa sa mga biktima ng pamamaril sa Barangay Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato kaninang alas 12:30 ng tanghali.

Kinilala ang nasawi na si Ronnie Somelo ng Barangay Binoligan, Kidapawan City.

Habang sumailalim naman sa operasyon ang nagmaneho ng Toyota Hilux pick up truck na si Edwin Cartagena na taga Lanao, Kidapawan City.

Nabatid na tinambangan ng riding tandem suspects ang dalawa habang bumabiyahe mula Kidapawan-Datu Montawal route. Matapos ang pamamaril, bumangga ang Toyota Hi Lux sa pader.

DATU HOFER, Maugindanao del Sur – An employee of the National Irrigation Administration today escaped unscathed in an ambush by still unidentified gunmen in Barangay Labu-Labu here.

Personnel of the municipal police station of Datu Hofer, headed by Capt. Ramillo Serame, are still at the ambush site conducting post crime investigation.

“We are still investigating,” Serame told DXMS Radyo Bida.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – Narekober ng mga sundalo ng 34th Infantry (Reliable) Battalion nitong Lunes ng umaga (Mayo 8, 2023) sa Barangay Tugal, Midsayap, nORTH Cotabato ang tatlong mga malalakas na uri ng Rocket Propelled Grenades o RPG na naiwan ng mga naglalabanang grupo dahil sa rido.

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao Norte  – Police operatives in Lanao del Sur on Wednesday neutralized, during law enforcement operation in the town of Maguing, the alleged mastermind on the plot to kill provincial Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr.

Colonel Robert Daculan, Lanao del Sur police provincial director, said Oscar Tacmar Capal Gandawali, leader of Gandawali Private Armed Group, was killed when he resisted arrest and briefly traded shots with police operatives at about 3 p.m. Wednesday (May 3).

Military forces in Lanao del Sur on Tuesday briefly clashed with Moro extremists in Lanao del Sur and recovered a machine gun, the military said today.

But the object of military action managed to elude arrest while fighting was raging on Tuesday afternoon.

Elements of 51st Infantry Battalion missed Dawlah Islamiya-Lanao leader Abu Zacariah, the alleged highest leader of IS linked Moro extremists in Mindanao.

Soldiers were checking on intelligence reports that Zacaria, the alleged emir of IS in the Philippines, was on board a white Mitsubishi adventure.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – One of the gunmen involved in the killing of 44 police officers in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in 2015 was killed during law enforcement operations in Datu Saudi Ampatuan municipality, the Army said Sunday.

Lt. Colonel Michael Glenn Manansala, 6th Infantry Battalion commander, said joint police and Army operatives were to serve a warrant of arrest against Bansir Samaon when resisted and, using his caliber .45 pistol, opened fire on state forces at about noon Friday.

COTABATO CITY - Four more members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters trained in fabrication of improvised explosive devices surrendered to the Army Friday. 

They first turned in two .30 caliber Garand rifles, an M14 rifle, a bolt-action sniper rifle and explosives before they renounced their membership with the BIFF during a simple surrender rite at Camp Leono in Barangay Kalandagan in Tacurong City.

COTABATO CITY -- Soldiers and policemen shot dead a courier of explosives they were to arrest in an anti-terror operation in Maguindanao del Sur Thursday that turned haywire when he resisted, provoking a clash. 

The slain Bansir Samaon, a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and known by aliases Bungo and Malang, died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.