ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The military claimed to have killed 30 members of the Maute group “in fighting that has been raging in the last three days,” an official said.
Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command chief, said the series of clashes between soldiers and the Maute group began April 21, Friday, as Joint Task Force Zampelan launched an air and land offensive against the armed band, who were encamped in the Piagapao Complex.
Ten gunmen were killed Friday, six the next day and 13 more on Sunday, Galvez said.
Galvez said the operation was mounted because “reports from the local government indicate that the Maute members are regrouping to craft terror plans on still unidentified targets.”
Among the items recovered by the troops was an Indonesian passport in the name of Muhammad Ilham Syahputra.
Galvez said the captured camp was surrounded by deep running trenches.