ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops are continuously conducting clearing and pursuit operations against the Dawlah Islamaiya terrorists in Central Mindanao area, military officials announced Sunday.
This, as the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central has launched offensive against the Dawlah Islamiya since Thursday, March 25, to thwart plans of the terrorists to conduct bombings in Central Mindanao.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said that the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion (1SRB)troopers discovered an abandoned lair of the Dawlah Islamiya-Hassan group while conducting clearing operations Friday morning, March 26, in Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Vinluan said the lair was some 100 meters away from the previous clash site and “was probably abandoned during the bomb run conducted by the troops of the Joint Task Force Central on March 25″.
Lt. Col. Raymond Rapi, 1SRB commander, said the abandoned lair has eight makeshift huts and a half-sized basketball court.
Rapi said they recovered from the lair three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), bomb-making components, three solar panels, three unserviceable commercial radios, one analog and two smart cellular phones, binocular, a sack of rice, dextrose, and other personal belongings that include uniforms of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and assorted foodstuff.
At past 3 o’clock in the afternoon of Friday, March 26, the joint elements of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion and 32nd Explosive Ordnance Division recovered one pull tension tripwire type of IED and bomb-making components while conducting focused military operation in Barangay Salman, also in Ampatuan town.
Col. Pedro Balisi, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander, said the troops of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion have recovered two IEDs around 8 a.m. Saturday, March 27, while conducting focused military operation in Sitio Bagorot Tuayan, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao.
Around 10 o’clock in the morning of the same day, combined elements of the 1st Mechanized and 33rd Infantry Battalions have recovered another IED while conducting a separate operation in Barangay Salman, Ampatuan town.
They also recovered a grenade launcher in the morning of Sunday, March 28, when the troops continue to scour Barangay Salman.
Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, JTF-Central commander, said that since the start of the intensified operations on March 25, the troops of the task force were able to overrun two enemy strongholds and recover nine IEDs and several bomb-making components.
“We are exhausting all available assets to neutralize the terrorists who are responsible for the conduct of atrocities in central Mindanao,” Uy said.
With all these accomplishments, Vinluan extended his appreciation to the people of Maguindanao who continue to provide vital information to the armed forces.
“The involvement of the civilians is very important in our security efforts. Rest assured, your soldiers will remain steadfast in keeping every community safe and in thwarting the hostile plans of the terrorists,” Vinluan said. – Nikolai Gonzalo
