Soldier dies in clash with ISIS-linked group in Maguindanao
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 16:39 PM Tue Jun 12, 2018
709
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
ARMY CAMP
SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A young infantryman died while fighting the
ISIS-linked Moro rebel group in Maguindanao on Monday, the Army here said
today.
Lt. Colonel
Harold Cabunoc, the commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, identified
his slain subordinate as Private First Class Garry Quitor, 27 of Pigcawayan,
North Cotabato, who, Cabunoc said, died as a hero in defending the
Constitution.
Cabunoc said Quitor
was part of Alpha Company led by 1Lt Alessandro Cruzada that pursued the small
band of terrorists in the marshy terrain of Maguindanao following a bomb run in
the Liguasan marshland.
After the
bombing, the terrorists, all belonging to Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
(BIFF), ran to different direction and clash with 33rd IB blocking
force. A face-to-face encounter ensued that killed 15 terrorists and Quitor’s
death.
He
volunteered as the point man of the patrol despite the high risks involved in
the operations. His bravery will be emulated by the rest of my troops, Cabunoc
said.
The Army and
the PNP were tracking the enemies inside the bushy area that was reported as
the hiding place of the fleeing terrorists.
Soldiers had
to wade in chest deep murky water to locate the concealed positions of the
terrorists.
We are
adapting in this new battlefield condition through innovations in tactics and
equipment. We are drawing lessons from this experience, Cabunoc said in a
statement.
Military
informants said that Salahuddin Hassan aka Orak and some foreign jihadists are
still trapped in the area after their boats were destroyed by the air strikes
and artillery bombardments yesterday.
Soldiers also
recovered a Cal 30 garand rifle in the vicinity of the encounter site and are
still looking for other injured armed men.
Brigadier
General Cirilito Sobejana, the Commander of the 6th Infantry Division, has
extended his condolences to the bereaved family members of Quitor.
We have
lost a gentleman and a warrior today. He will never be forgotten, he
said.
The Army
claimed 15 BIFF were killed during air strikes and ground assaults in the
marshland of Maguindanao on Sunday. Eight others were injured and two were
arrested. (Edwin O. Fernandez)