Five members of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group (DI-HG), including an alleged sub-leader, were killed during a military operation in Barangay Inug-ug, Pikit, North Cotabato, on the afternoon of Aug. 6.
Lt. Col. Erwin Jay Dumaghan, commander of the 40th Infantry Battalion, identified one of those killed as Marhom Esmael, also known as “Marhom,” who was described by the military as a sub-leader of the DI-Hassan Group.
The other fatalities were identified as Ameer Hassan, Asnawi Sansawi Usman, also known as “Ali,” Rasul Tito, and Baby Ayunan Camsa.
According to the military, Marhom was facing criminal charges that include murder, frustrated murder, and robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons.
Authorities also identified Halim Sansawi Usman as the second most wanted person in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), while Ali Hassan was listed as the third most wanted person in Maguindanao del Sur.
The operation was carried out by joint government forces composed of the 40th Infantry Battalion, the 601st Infantry Brigade, the 602nd Infantry Brigade, the Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office, the Pikit Municipal Police Station, and other operating units of the 6th Infantry Division.
The military said government troops encountered armed members of the group, resulting in a firefight. After the clash, authorities recovered two M16A1 rifles, two pistols, a hand grenade, and ammunition magazines believed to have been used by the armed group.
The Maguindanao del Sur Police also linked three of the principal suspects to the ambush in Shariff Aguak on March 28, 2026, as well as other violent incidents.
Clearing operations and validation efforts remain ongoing in the area, according to authorities. Via BRIGADA COTABATO
