ILIGAN CITY – The military recovered a machinegun following a short gun battle with the Daulah Islamiyah-Lanao (DI-Lanao) in Pualas, Lanao del Sur on Tuesday afternoon, May 2.
The 51st Infantry Battalion received a report that DI-Lanao leader Abu Zacariah was traveling onboard a white Mitsubishi Adventure.
A vehicular patrol was conducted and operating troops saw the subject vehicle parked on the road in Barangay Gadongan.
More or less ten DI-Lanao members opened fire at soldiers checking the vehicle. The confrontation lasted for a few minutes after which the DI-Lanao fighters scampered to different directions.
No one was hurt from the government side while casualties in the enemy side have yet to be determined.
Troops recovered an M60 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with 140 rounds of ammunition.
Major Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commander of Joint Task Force ZamPeLan, said troops are in pursuit of the fleeing terrorists to prevent them from creating havoc in peaceful communities.
Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido commended troops of JTF ZamPeLan for their prompt response to the report. “Rest assured that we will continue our deliberate efforts to clear the communities from threat," he said.
Zacariah's fate was unknown.