By Francis T. Wakefield
Government troops of the Joint Task Force “Ranao” encountered Maute-ISIS remnants and bombers in Lanao del Sur over the weekend, resulting to the recovery of numerous firearms and ammunitions.
Major General Roseller G. Murillo, the commander of the 1st Infantry Division, disclosed that the encounter took place early Saturday.
Murillo said responding to reports of concerned civilians, government forces conducted combat strike operations at the vicinity of the said area when they encountered more or less 10 Maute-ISIS members in a 35-minute firefight.
Murillo said the terrorists attempted to escape via the lake but the troops were able to sink their two boats.
The encounter saw six soldiers suffer minor shrapnel wounds.
Operating troops recovered one M-203 grenade launcher, two rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), three anti-personnel 60 mm RPG ammo, one anti-tank RPG ammo, three 40mm ammo, a hand grenade, two RPG fuse, one binocular, one ISIS flag, and several drug paraphernalia.