By Edwin Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Four members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hasan Group were killed in a clash with Philippine Marines in Maguindanao del Norte on Monday morning, the military reported.
Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the 6th Marine Company of Marine Battalion Landing Team 2 (MBLT-2) conducted the operation in Sitio Palao, Barangay Barira, Barira town, around 8 a.m.
The operation resulted in the recovery of war materials and the deaths of four terrorists.
Three of the fatalities have been identified, and their bodies were claimed by relatives.
In a statement, MBLT-2 said elements of the 68th Marine Company, along with the 65th Force Reconnaissance Company and Force Reconnaissance Group, were conducting a patrol when they encountered the group led by alias Alpha King.
“A five-minute encounter ensued, resulting in the death of four gunmen and no casualties on the government side,” MBLT-2 said.
The Marines had been monitoring the group since January 2025. Clearing operations are ongoing, and troops are preparing for possible retaliatory attacks. (PNA)
