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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH Army identifies 4 fallen troops in Lanao del Norte ambush

PH Army identifies 4 fallen troops in Lanao del Norte ambush

Published Jan 24, 2026 05:14 pm
Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commanding general of the Philippine Army, hands over assistance to the family of one of the four slain soldiers during an ambush by suspected Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG) remnants in Lanao del Norte. Nafarrete accompanied Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (behind, center) during their visit to the province on Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo: Philippine Army)
Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, commanding general of the Philippine Army, hands over assistance to the family of one of the four slain soldiers during an ambush by suspected Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG) remnants in Lanao del Norte. Nafarrete accompanied Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (behind, center) during their visit to the province on Jan. 24, 2026. (Photo: Philippine Army)
The Philippine Army (PA) identified on Saturday, Jan. 24, the four soldiers who were killed in an ambush by suspected Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG) remnants in Munai, Lanao del Norte.
Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, PA commanding general, said the slain soldiers were Staff Sergent Diosito Araya, of the 1st Civil-Military Operations Battalion (CMOBn); Sgt. Gilbert Arnoza, of the 106th Infantry Battalion; Sgt. Junel Calgas, of the 97th Infantry Battalion; and Private Sean Mark Laniton, of the 44th Infantry Battalion.
The ambushed soldiers were all enlisted personnel belonging to Task Unit Tabang under the operational control of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade.
Nafarrete and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. paid their tribute and rendered a final salute to the fallen soldiers during their visit to Lanao del Norte.
Aside from that, Brawner and Nafarrete also visited Corporal Rollen Dela Cruz, of the 10th Infantry Battalion, at the Mercy Community Hospital in Brgy. Tubod, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte where he is recovering after surviving the ambush.
Dela Cruz was awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal by Brawner and Nafarrete.
“We assure their families of full and immediate support. The Philippine Army endeavors to bring comfort to the families of our fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the country and the Filipino people,” Nafarrete said.
The soldiers were on a non-combat and community-focused mission when DI-MG remnants attacked them at Purok 1, Barangay Lininding in Munai on Jan. 23.
The PA said the assault was a retaliatory act by weakened terrorist elements trying to assert relevance amid growing pressure from government forces.
The military leadership vowed to continue pursuing the perpetrators and to secure communities from further attacks.
“As operations continue, AFP units are intensifying focused actions to locate and neutralize the perpetrators, prevent further threats to civilians, and ensure the safety and stability of the affected communities,” the AFP said.

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