5 persons die, 3 hurt in Lanao del Norte village clashes

Lanao del Norte. INQUIRER FILES

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Five still unidentified men were killed Monday in a series of clashes between the military and remnants of the Dawlah Islamiya-inspired Maute Group in Lanao del Norte.

Major Jairus Mark Mira, spokesperson of the Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division, said troops of the 103rd Infantry Brigade were conducting a combat operation against the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group when they clashed at 3:42 a.m. on Monday against 12 members of the group under Nasser Daud alias Mahater, also known as Ustadz Nasser or Mas’od at Cadayonan village in Munai town.

Mira said three bodies were found at the encounter site after the firefight that lasted about 45 minutes.

READ: Military mourns loss of 6 soldiers in Lanao clash with IS militants

They were still pursuing their fleeing enemies when they clashed again with another group at 6:30 a.m. at Maganding village of Munai. Two bodies were found at the site of the second encounter, which lasted for about 10 minutes.

Authorities were still trying to identify the bodies.

Mira said two soldiers were wounded after the first clash, and another one after the second clash.

Soldiers recovered two high-powered firearms along with two bandoliers, a rifle grenade, a handheld radio, and personal items.