DAVAO CITY — Four soldiers were killed on Sunday in an ambush staged by suspected members of the Dawlah Islamiya in Datu Hoffer town in Maguindanao del Sur..
The incident happened at 9 a.m. in the village of Tuayan 1, a residential village while the soldiers were on their way back to the headquarters after delivering office supplies and buying food for “iftar.”
“Iftar” is the breaking of the fast after the 6 p.m. prayer during the fasting month of Ramadan.
The victims sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of their bodies, were brought to the Maguindanao Provincial Hospital by the responding members of the 40th IB and personnel of the Datu Hoffer Municipal Police Station, but were declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.
Major General Alex S. Rillera, the commander of 6ID and Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), identified the slain soldiers as Privates Marvin Dumaguing and Jessie James Corpuz, Private 1st Class Carl Araña and Cpl. Creszaldy Espertero.
Brig. General Oriel Pangcog, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade said the three of the fatalities were members of the 40th Infantry Battalion (IB) and one from the 3rd Army Cavalry under the 601st Infantry Brigade.
The cadavers of the soldiers are now in the 6th Infantry Division in Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.
On December 2, 2023, eleven members of the said terrorist group were killed in a military operation in a mountainous part of Mother Tuayan in Datu Hoffer.
The military is now conducting hot pursuit and combat-clearing operations in the area.
The Philippine Army condemns the senseless, treacherous, and most heinous acts perpetrated by this terrorist group. The Army is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators face the full consequences of their actions and that justice will be served for the victims and their families,” Philippine Army Commander Rey Galido in a statement said.
