Five members of local terror group Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group died while five soldiers were wounded in a fierce gun battle in Munai, Lanao del Norte on Monday, April 29.
Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, said the operation stemmed from intelligence reports of the presence of the remnants of the DI-Maute Group in Barangay Cadayonan.
Elements of the First Scout Ranger Regiment were then sent to the area which resulted in the clash at around 3:45 a.m. on Monday which lasted for 45 minutes.
A second clash erupted during the pursuit operations three hours later which lasted for 10 minutes.
Viray said the gun battle resulted in the death of five DI-Maute Group members under Nasser Daud.
Seized during the clearing operation were an Ma16 and an M14 rifles, a rifle grenade and other personal belongings of the slain DI-Maute Group members.
But five soldiers were wounded during the clash, according to Viray.
He said all the wounded soldiers are now in stable condition.
Soldiers have been scouring the remote areas of Lanao del Norte and nearby provinces for the presence of the DI-Maute Group, all remnants of the group which was involved in the Marawi siege.
But the government has been also persuading them to surrender.