The firefight broke out at Sitio Gawang in Barangay Manaulanan when members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya opened fire on combined military and police units serving arrest warrants.
The combatants operated under wanted commanders Daureen Manampan, alias “Marines,” and an individual identified as “Zoren.”
Local officials and military investigators identified six of the slain gunmen as Mumin Haron, Haymin Taib, Dagkungan Musa, Norodin Baskie, Abdullah Dalimbang and Abdulrahim Dalimbang.
Authorities are verifying whether a seventh body recovered Sunday belongs to one of the target commanders.
Troops from the 602nd Infantry Brigade recovered four M16 rifles and a Garand rifle at the scene. Fleeing combatants carried five wounded companions into nearby marshlands, according to field reports.
No government casualties were reported.
Tugunan Mayor Abdulbayan Abas said the group formed part of a criminal network led by Mama Lilah Tanageb, Zoria Mulod and Theng Saddam, who face charges including carjacking with homicide, illegal drug trafficking, cattle rustling, and extortion targeting local agricultural communities.
Local disaster response teams are providing emergency relief to 1,346 displaced families. Meanwhile, peace mechanisms — including the MILF Ad Hoc Joint Action Group and the GPH-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities — remain deployed in the area to manage local security and prevent further escalation.
