56 killed in S. Philippine military operation

At least 54 militants and two soldiers were killed in an ongoing military offensive operation started last Thursday in south Philippine province of Lanao del Sur, military officials said on Monday.

The military said nine other troopers were also injured in the operation.

Filemon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the intense operation was launched against a local terrorist group led by the Maute brothers at Barangay Ragayan, Butig town.

Tan said involved in the offensive attack were the combined military forces from the 5th Mechanized Battalion, 51st Infantry Battalion, and Philippine Air Force.

He said the target of the military forces were the terrorists responsible of beheading two farmers earlier this month. The same group were also responsible of abducting sawmill operators and crew in the same town.

"The troops continue to advance towards the enemy stronghold and defeat the LTGs (local terrorist groups) in the area," Tan said.

He said security was also established in the community areas to prevent the militants from taking refuge with the civilians.

In February, government forces also launched an offensive against the Maute Group when the group's members attacked a military detachment in Butig town. Six soldiers died, one of them beheaded, and 11 others were wounded in the operation.

The military establishment initially reported that 42 terrorists were killed in the 11-day campaign but later said the number of "validated" terrorists who were slain in the operation was only 24.

The Maute Group, which has linkages with the Southeast Asian regional terrorist network Jemaah Islamiyah, is blamed by the military for a number of bombings and extortion activities in the Lanao provinces. Endit