Air strikes and artillery bombardment targeting the factions were delivered by the operating troops of the 601st Brigade at around 11am yesterday.
Simultaneously, troops of the 57th Infantry Battalion under 1st Lieutenant Rosal provided direct and mortar fire support, while members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, Moro Islamic Liberation Front maneuvered towards the enemy’s location.
At around 5:20pm yesterday, a temporary encampment fortified with bunkers and occupied by the Daesh-inspired group was overrun by the 57IB.
Four Improvised Explosive Devices, two M14 rifles, an M16 rifle, and a flag of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria were seized by the military.
"Troops thoroughly scour the area as the joint security campaign with the MILF is sustained to defeat the terrorists,” said Major General Dela Vega, commander of the Joint Task Force Central.
A cadaver of a BIFF fighter was also retrieved by the troops in the encounter site.
“All means are currently being exhausted with the support of the MILF as combat operations are being launched in the area,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.
"The trust and confidence between the government forces and the BIAF has been built and hardened through the years. This resulted to the successful joint operations currently being conducted by our Joint Task Forces in Western Mindanao area."
"The MILF and the rest of the peace-loving people of the country are now our partners in defeating terrorism and preventing it from thriving in our communities," added the WestMinCom chief.
