COTABATO CITY – Government forces neutralized two lawless elements in a joint operation in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao Friday morning.
In a report, Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said composite elements of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Buluan municipal police station operated against the lawless group around 6:50 a.m.
“Two died in the enemy side following a fierce gun battle in remote Barangay Lipao of Datu Paglas town,” Carreon said.
The lawless group’s leader, a certain Commander Grasscutter, a sub-leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a known major drug pusher in the province, managed to escape.
Grasscutter has long been wanted by the law since 2017 due to illegal drug trafficking and other nefarious activities.
Aside from the bodies of two lawless elements, government troopers also recovered an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle, bandoliers, and magazines at the clash site.
Carreon lauded the operating composite team as he vowed to continue law enforcement operations against lawless groups in Central Mindanao. (PNA)