MAMASAPANO, Maguindanao del Sur — Government forces under the 601st Infantry Brigade and the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) engaged members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group (DI-HG) in two separate encounters on Friday, June 5, as part of an intensified military campaign aimed at dismantling the terrorist network responsible for a series of violent attacks in Central Mindanao.
The clashes occurred in the municipality of Mamasapano amid ongoing decisive military operations that have been underway for more than a month. The campaign targets armed extremists linked to ambushes against police and military personnel, as well as the killing of a Teduray tribal leader.
Military officials said the operations were carried out by combined elements of the 38th Infantry Battalion (38IB), 64th Division Reconnaissance Company, 34th Infantry Battalion, 90th Infantry Battalion, 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, and other units operating under the 601st Infantry Brigade led by Brig. Gen. Edgar L. Catu.
The primary objective of the operation was to track down the remaining followers of Marhom Esmael, also known as “Marhom,” a sub-leader of the DI-Hassan Group and one of the region’s most wanted personalities. Authorities said Esmael is facing multiple criminal charges, including murder, frustrated murder, and robbery with violence or intimidation of persons.
The first encounter erupted at around 5:29 a.m. in Barangay Pimbalakan, Mamasapano, while troops of the 38th Infantry Battalion under 2nd Lt. Ticar were conducting focused military operations in the area.
According to military reports, government forces encountered an undetermined number of DI-Hassan Group members, triggering a firefight that forced the armed extremists to retreat.
During a subsequent clearing operation, soldiers recovered two high-powered firearms abandoned by the fleeing militants. The recovered weapons included a 5.56mm M16A1 rifle with four long magazines and a 7.62mm M14 rifle with four magazines.
Several hours later, at around 9:25 a.m., troops from Bravo Company of the 38th Infantry Battalion led by Capt. Baligod engaged another armed DI-HG element in Barangay Daladap, also in Mamasapano.
Following the encounter, government troops recovered a 5.56mm Remington R4 rifle along with two long magazines. Military officials believe the firearm belonged to a soldier from the 40th Infantry Battalion who was killed during a deadly DI-Hassan Group ambush in Barangay Tuayan 1, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, on March 17, 2024.
The recovery of the rifle was viewed as a significant development in the ongoing campaign against the terrorist group, which has been linked to several high-profile attacks in Maguindanao del Sur.
In total, three high-powered firearms were seized during the two separate encounters.
The latest clashes followed an earlier encounter on May 30, 2026, in Barangay Tuayan 1, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, which was likewise part of continuing military operations against the DI-Hassan Group.
Military authorities reiterated that the group has long been blamed for the March 17, 2024 ambush against troops of the 40th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Tuayan 1, where four soldiers were killed while performing their duties during the holy month of Ramadan.
The DI-Hassan Group, allegedly led by Marhom Esmael, has also been implicated in the March 29, 2026 ambush against police personnel in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur. The attack left five members of the Philippine National Police dead and three others wounded, further intensifying security operations in the region.
Brig. Gen. Catu emphasized the military’s determination to eliminate the remaining terrorist elements operating in Central Mindanao.
“We will continue conducting operations to ensure that the remaining members of the terrorist group are held accountable and that the security of our communities is maintained,” Catu said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Jose Vladimir R. Cagara, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central, underscored the importance of sustained cooperation between security forces, local government units, communities, and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in the fight against terrorism.
“Our success is the result of the collective efforts of our soldiers, local government units, and citizens. We are grateful for the continued cooperation, support, and trust of our communities and the MILF through the sharing of vital information that allows us to act swiftly,” Cagara said.
“The immediate reporting of intelligence by concerned citizens plays a crucial role in preventing further violence and enabling us to address security threats promptly. We will not stop until the threat of violence in the region is completely eliminated,” he added.
The 601st Infantry Brigade and the 6th Infantry Division continue to conduct focused military operations across Maguindanao del Sur as part of broader efforts to neutralize terrorist groups, protect civilian communities, and sustain peace and development in the Bangsamoro region.