COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Ten persons described as “bandits” by the military were killed and a soldier was slightly injured during a clash in a remote village of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat late Thursday afternoon.
Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc, 33rd Infantry Battalion commander, said soldiers and local police were serving a warrant of arrest against a certain “Commander Dimas,” alias “Dragon,” who he described as a former Moro Islamic Liberation Front field commander who had turned to banditry, when “we were fired upon as we approached the target wanted person.”
Commander Dimas, who is facing multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges, fled into the forests of Bual, leaving his slain companions and several firearms.
Cabunoc said Sergeant Davides Endario was slightly injured.
The remains of the 10 fatalities were turned over to local officials while pursuit operations continue, Cabunco added.