ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two members of the Local Terror Group Maute were killed while another one was captured during a joint operation by the police and military yesterday in Iligan City.
Initial reports reaching Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Spokesman Capt Jo-Ann Petinglay reveal that the Maute group members engaged the operatives to a gunfight after bandits avoided being flagged down by forcibly taking away the Ford Ranger of a businessman.
The vehicle’s owner, identified as Othelo Adiong, 36, was cruising along C3 road in the village of Ubaldo Laya and was on his way to their store being accompanied by his mother Elvira , wife Stephanie and their son when they were intercepted by the bandits.
The bandits later on engaged responding authorities from the CAA patrol base under 4Mech Battalion, Mechanized Infantry Division of the Philippine Army resulting in the death of two of the rebels identified as Azzam Ampua Tahir and a certain Wowie.
Arrested was Eyeman Alonto from Marawi City, driver of the white Elantra, another vehicle that was used by the group.
Recovered by the troops were an M4 rifle with three magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition and a Caliber .45 pistol belonging to the group. (NONOY E. LACSON)
