31 terrorists killed, 6 high-powered firearms recovered by troops on clearing operations in Marawi City

Zamboanga City, Philippines - Elements of the Joint Task Force ZamPeLan under Brigadier General Rolly Bautista engaged in an armed confrontation with members of the Local Terrorist Group in Marawi City yesterday (May 25).

At 9 am yesterday, operating troops, while clearing two bridges heading towards Bangulo area, encountered an estimated 30 heavily armed terrorists.

Eighteen more terrorists were killed after two hours of armed confrontation with the same troops. Five high-powered firearms were also recovered from the encounter site.

"As of this report, 31 terrorists were already neutralized and six high-powered firearms were recovered by the troops," said Brigadier General Bautista.

"Our troops are doing deliberate operations in areas we believe are still occupied or infested with the terrorist's presence.

"I specifically ordered our soldiers to locate and destroy these terrorists as soon as possible," he added.

In another area of the city, soldiers on clearing operations were able to rescue 16 civilians upon reaching Barangay Kilala, Marawi City.

Operating units, through the clearing operations they were conducting, afforded safe passage to the said civilians trapped in the areas where they hid during the height of the Maute Group's occupation of the area.

"The skirmishes and clearing operations today resulted in the unfortunate death of 6 soldiers and the wounding of 7 others," said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., Commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

"They made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that the city will be cleared from terror threat and immediately restore normalcy in this part of Mindanao."

"We once more call on the people in the community to join us fight terrorism. Provide your security forces with information that will contribute to the neutralization of these agents of deaths and destruction."

"We will exhaust all efforts to crush the remaining Maute members so that the people of Marawi City can go back to their homes the soonest," added Lieutenant General Galvez. (posted by Becky D. de Asis-The Redline News)