Two (2) notorious criminal Dawlah Islamia-Maute Group (DIMG) members were killed in a 3-minute armed encounter with the troops of 51st Infantry (Fuerte Uno) Battalion, 1ID, PA at Sitio Kangkong, Brgy Palacat, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur on 05 February 2022 at around 10:30 in the morning.
Lieutenant Colonel Fernando L Payapaya, Commanding Officer of 51IB, personally identified the slain terrorists as Arafat Amino A.K.A. Salama and a certain A.K.A. Gazali, both members of the DI-MG who were liable of the shooting incidents in the said municipality victimizing innocent civilian workers of the government developmental projects.
The duo were on their way towards the construction site of one of the government project to terrorize civilian workers when a concerned citizen reported them that prompted this Unit to deploy its finest troops to conduct hasty combat operations.
The troops incurred no injury and was able to quickly capture one (1) M16 rife and one (1) caliber 45 pistol from the encounter site prior to their immediate withdrawal upon observing several armed men approaching to reinforce the killed DI-MG members.
LTC PAYAPAYA expressed his condolences to the bereaved family of the killed DI-MG members.
“We do not rejoice seeing fellow Filipinos perished in the false Jihadist Beliefs. Once again, we are encouraging the remnants of the DI-MG to surrender and live peacefully with their families with the benefits of the government programs for the former rebels,” Ltc Payapaya said.
