Encounter in Lanao del Sur results in death of 3 Islamist group members, 3 apprehended
In a significant development, Philippine government forces have disrupted the operations of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) in Lanao del Sur, following a clash on August 9, 2025.
The encounter, which took place in Barangay Lumbayanague, saw several members of the DI-MG, including a woman and a young boy, allegedly underage fighters, lose their lives. Three child warriors, identified by aliases Abu Zacaria, Al Wala, and Asnawi, were arrested.
The troops, serving warrants of arrest against the DI-MG terrorists, recovered various high-caliber firearms, grenades, homemade rocket launchers, and ISIS flags at the site. Weapon caches were confiscated, and arrest warrants executed for murder and homicide. One soldier was injured but is now in stable condition.
Major General Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., 1st Infantry Brigade commander, hailed the operation as a decisive strike that significantly weakened the DI-MG's operational capabilities. He emphasised that the authorities would continue to pursue the remaining members of the group, in coordination with the police forces.
Barroquillo also urged the DI-MG remnants to surrender and live peacefully. He stated that the military would provide assistance to those who choose to lay down their arms and return to civilian life.
The clash was initiated by DI-MG members who opened fire upon sensing the presence of the troops. No further information about the soldier's identity was immediately available.
This operation marks another significant blow to the DI-MG in Lanao del Sur, following a series of encounters since early 2024. In May 2025, a 15-minute clash occurred between the group and police-military forces in Barangay Tambo, Bacolod-Kalawi town, resulting in the dispersal of the group. In February 2024, a separate clash resulted in 6 soldiers killed and 4 wounded.
Authorities continue to pursue the fleeing leaders, including Amerol Usman, indicating ongoing efforts to dismantle the group's command structure. The arrested child warriors were placed under army custody, pending transfer to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
No new arrests or escapes were reported in the latest clash. However, several other members of the DI-MG managed to escape during the encounter. The recovered weapons and materials' location is not specified.
As the Philippine forces continue their relentless pursuit of the DI-MG, the group's operational strength is being steadily eroded, making it increasingly difficult for them to regroup effectively. The authorities are urging the remaining members to lay down their arms and return to peaceful lives.
- The decisive strike on the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) in Zamboanga, following the August 9, 2025 clash, has been highlighted as a general news item, with politics and crime-and-justice sectors closely monitoring the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region.
- Amidst the ongoing hunt for the elusive DI-MG leaders, such as Amerol Usman, the latest clash in Lanao del Sur marked another instance of crime-and-justice news in the Philippines, with the arrested child warriors now under the care of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, potentially leading to further developments in the realm of general news and politics.
