While conducting focused military operation, combined elements of the Marine Batallion Landing Team 6 and 64th Marine Company encountered 10 armed men in Barangay Lakit-Lakit, Sapa-Sapa, Tawi-Tawi at 5am of January 19, 2020.
The exhange of fires resulted in the deaths of 4 enemies identified as Oyong Maulana, Datu Solon Maulana, Rashida Maulana, and Nhadz Omar while one soldier incurred slight injury.
“The neutralized enemies are notorious drug personalities positively identified by the LGU of Sapa-Sapa municipality,” said Brig. Gen. Camilo Balutan, commander of the Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi.
“The said group is also known as conduits of Sulu-based ASG/KFRG conducting kidnapping operations in the tri-boundary of IndoMalPhi,” Brig. Gen. Balutan added.
Seized from the encounter site were one M1 Garand rifle, one bandolier with 2 long and 5 short magazines loaded with 5.56mm live ammunitions, 2 sachets of suspected Methamphetamine Hydrochloride (Shabu), assorted drug paraphernalia, and 2 cellular phones.
WestMinCom chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana commended the troops for the very remarkable accomplishment.
“Our troops are in pursuit of the remaining members of the group who managed to escape,” said Lt. Gen. Sobejana.
“We are working round-the-clock to ensure the safety and security of the people in our area of operations,” Lt. Gen. Sobejana added.
Clearing operations and documentation are still being conducted.
