Gov't forces search for Dawlah Islamiya in Lanao mountains

ILIGAN CITY -- After four bombs were dropped by the military on Saturday in the mountain ranges of Madalum and Madamba town in Lanao del Sur, government soldiers are now scouring the area to confirm the report of residents that there are members of the Dawlah Islamiyah (DI)-Lanao group training in the area.

Col. Jose Maria Cuerpo, commander of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, said their combat operations started on November 10, when civilians in the area informed the military of temporary camps covered by blue “trapal” or tarpaulin, built in the area.

The combat operation in the area resulted in the recovery of subversive documents, including the identification card and other papers belonging to S/Sgt. Lito Polines, a member of the Army’s 553rd Engineer Battalion who was shot dead in Barangay Basak Malutlut, Marawi City on October 7.

The military has also discovered black flaglets with the ISIS logo, bomb-making materials and improvised explosive devices in the area.

This made the military believe that this group is a remnant of the DI, also known as the Maute-ISIS group.

“With the recovery of Polines’ ID in the area, we are suspecting that this group is the same group who killed (Staff Sergeant Lito) Polines,” Cuerpo said.

“We cannot penetrate their temporary camps because it is located on a strategic high location. We assured that no civilians were hurt during the air strike because it is around six kilometers from the community,” Cuerpo said in a phone interview.

After the four airstrikes, troops are now scouring the area to validate a report that several members of the terrorist group were killed. There was no reported injury or fatality from the government side.

The 103rd Infantry Brigade assures residents in Lanao del Sur and Marawi City that the ongoing combat operations against the DI are contained in the mountain ranges of the two municipalities. (PNA)