Marcos government steps up efforts vs terrorist groups

FILE: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally handed over special financial assistance to 12 soldiers who sustained injuries in fighting the militant Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group involved in the bombing of the Mindanao State University-Marawi last month. (PCO Photo)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Sunday vowed to strengthen the government campaign against terrorist groups.

The President made the statement after six soldiers were killed in clashes with the Islamic State-linked Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG) group in a remote village in Munai, Lanao del Norte on Feb. 18.

“Hindi natin makakalimutan ang kanilang kadakilaan at kabayanihan. Ipagpapatuloy natin ang kanilang ipinaglaban, at uusigin natin ang mga kalaban ng kapayapaan. (We will never forget their greatness and heroism. We will continue what they fought for and we will go after the enemies of peace),” President Marcos said in his vlog uploaded on YouTube.

“Ipinapangako natin sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, at sa sambayanang Pilipino, na ating ipadarama sa kanilang mga na-ulila, ang pagmamahal at pagkikilala ng pamahalaan sa kanilang nagawang sakripisyo (We promise to their loved ones, and to the Filipino people, that we will make their family feel the love and recognition of the government for their sacrifices),” he added.

Six members of the Philippine Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion were killed and four others were wounded in a firefight with the DI group in Barangay Ramain.

The 7th Scout Ranger Company under the 3rd Scout Ranger Battalion helped in fighting the DI-MG extremists.

The DI-MG group operates in communities in the boundary of Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur.