In Maguindanao, families flee as Army hunts suspects in mayor’s ambush
COTABATO CITY—A soldier was killed while another was slightly injured during combat operations against terrorist group Dawlah Islamiya (DI) in the mountains of Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday, in pursuit of suspects in the ambush of Shariff Aguak Mayor Akmad Ampatuan Sr.
Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), did not name the slain soldier but said he belonged to the 90th Infantry Battalion.
The wounded trooper, Suscano added, sustained only slight injuries.
Combat operations
Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara, 6ID commander, said the Army launched the combat operations against DI-Hassan group at Sitio Bagurot in Barangay Tuayan Mother, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town, after locals alerted the military about their presence in the community.
The operation came on the heels of the Jan. 25 ambush of Ampatuan in which the DI and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are “groups of interest.”
Ampatuan survived the attack but two of his security aides were wounded. Three of the four suspects were killed following a pursuit by the police and the mayor’s security personnel.
Datu Mowen Ampatuan, village chief of Barangay Tuayan Mother, told the Inquirer that at least 85 families (425 people) have evacuated to safer grounds while the military operation was ongoing.
“They are now in the Barangay Tuayan Mother covered court and the local government has extended emergency food for them,” he said.
“We heard loud explosions up there in the mountain, I think from 105 howitzers,” he said.
On Wednesday, Police Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, police director of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, and Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, presented the rocket-propelled grenade launcher that one of the suspects used in the ambush of Mayor Ampatuan.
It was recovered in a joint police and military operation in Maguindanao del Sur.
