Daulah Islamiyah member killed in Maguindanao clash —military

A member of the Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group was killed in a gun battle with the military in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Friday.

“Amid the intensified conduct of focused military operations, soldiers encountered more or less 30 members of the local terrorist group led by Salahuddin Hassan, a.k.a. Orak/Abu Saif/Abu Salman in Barangay Salman on July 2, 2021,” Western Mindanao Command Commander Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr. said in a statement.

Vinluan said the military reported that heavy skirmishes erupted and lasted for about 30 minutes, resulting in the death of one Daulah Islamiyah-Hassan Group member, and the seizure of several war materiel.

Joint Task Force Central Commander Major General Juvymax Uy identified the casualty as Muslimin Kulas Tagal, based on the postal and voter’s ID recovered in his possession.

As the military searched the area, Tagal's body was recovered, as well as one 5.56mm empty long magazine, one civilian backpack, two cellular phones with charger, one pocket Wi-Fi, one postal ID, one voter’s ID, one hammock, one wallet with P500.00 cash, one bandolier, one laminated sack, two kilograms rice, assorted clothes, and medicines.

With reinforcements, government troops pursued the terror group, setting up  blockades in possible enemy withdrawal routes, according to the follow-up report.

Last December, the government's Anti-Terrorism Council designated certain rebel groups, including the Daulah Islamiyah, as terrorist organizations. —LBG, GMA News