By Edwin Fernandez
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao Norte – Government forces pursuing the gunmen who ambushed and killed five police officers last month neutralized three suspects during a military operation in the mountains of Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday.
The surgical operation was conducted in Barangay Tuayan Mother, where members of the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorist group had been hiding following an intensified joint police and military manhunt.
Lt. Col. Ronald Suscano, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) spokesperson, said the three fatalities were part of the group behind the March 28 ambush-slay of personnel from the 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company.
The slain officers were returning to their camp in Shariff Aguak town following peace and security operations at the town center when they were attacked by 15 gunmen.
During clearing operations at the encounter site, Army troops recovered the bodies of the gunmen along with three long firearms and ammunition.
“Ground troops are still conducting a clearing operation while other Army units are pursuing the gunmen,” Suscano stated.
The operation comes just days after the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) filed formal charges on April 22 against 11 individuals linked to the ambush.
The charges filed before the prosecutor’s office include multiple murder, attempted murder, and theft in connection with the deadly incident in Barangay Poblacion.
Military units in the region remain on high alert as pursuit operations continue against the remaining remnants of the terrorist cell involved in the attack. (PNA)
