Trooper slain in Maguindanao clash

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — An Army soldier has been killed in an encounter with suspected terrorists in Datu Saudi town in this province, officials reported yesterday.

Sgt. Donald Devalid of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, succumbed to a bullet wound in the body following an encounter with suspected terrorists in Barangay Kitango on Thursday.

The incident was preceded by a series of clashes between soldiers belonging to the the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) and Dawlah Islamiya bandits, in Mamasapano and Shariff Saidona Mustapha.

The firefight in Barangay Kitango broke out after the 6th ID announced that it was anticipating possible retaliations from the Dawlah Islamiya for the death of its three members in an encounter that occurred in Shariff Saidona Mustapha three days ago.

Two of the fatalities were related to wanted terrorist Abu Toraife, Abdulmalik Esmael in real life, who has been tagged in fatal bombings in central Mindanao in recent years.

Toraife’s group and followers are hostile to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is holding peace talks with the government.