The Philippine Army (PA) launched airstrikes and ground assault at an alleged temporary encampment of Dawlah Islamiyah (DI) in Datu Hoffer Ampatauan, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday, Dec. 1, killing 11 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS)-linked militant group, a ranking military officer bared.
Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, spokesperson of the Army's 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said the operation was carried out in Barangay Tuayan Mother around 12:15 a.m.
He said troops from the 6ID were conducting security operations on the ground when they spotted the encampment of the DI.
"We received information from the ground about the encampment so we launched an airstrike," Almorato said on Saturday, Dec. 2.
Two FA50 fighter jets were deployed to carry out the airstrikes that pulverized the encampment.
The Army then used artillery weapons such as canons to further pound the area. From there, the troops began its ground assault where they exchanged fire with around 15 alleged DI militants for about 20 minutes.
When the firefight ceased, the troops scoured the area and found the bodies of 11 suspected DI militants. There were also at least eight firearms and several explosives retrieved at the encampment.
Meanwhile, no one got hurt on the side of the government troops.
Almorato said a follow up security operation was launched to hunt down possible escaped militants.
The military officer estimated that 25 more DI members are still operating in the area.
Meanwhile, the military has coordinated with the local government of Datu Hoffer Ampatauan for the identification and consequent burial of the slain militants in accordance with their religious rites.
"There were imams and the barangay captain was there now for the identification and burial along with the SOCO [Scene of the Crime Operatives]," Almorato said.