4 soldiers killed in Lanao ambush

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January 24, 2026 | 12:00am

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Four Army soldiers were killed while another was wounded in an ambush by suspected members of local terrorist group Dawlah Islamiyah in Munai, Lanao del Norte yesterday morning.

The fatalities – S/Sgt. Diosito Araya, Sgts. Gilbert Arnoza and June Calgas, and a certain Pvt. Laniton – along with Cpl. Rollen dela Cruz were on their way to buy provisions when a group of armed men waylaid them in Barangay Liningding at past 10 a.m.

Araya, Arnoza, Calgas and Laniton died instantly from gunshot wounds, the military said.

Responding troopers from the Army’s 44th Infantry Battalion found the fatalities lying in a shallow river in Purok 1. They rushed Dela Cruz to a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.

The fatalities belonged to the civil-military operations battalion of the Army’s 1st Infantry Division, according to Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran, chief of the Western Mindanao Command.

They were crossing the river in a Toyota Avanza when the gunmen opened fire at them.

The military said the soldiers were members of Task Force Tabang, which is under the operational control of the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and engaged in humanitarian missions.

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete condemned the killing of the soldiers, whom he said were safeguarding communities in Lanao del Norte. — Pia Lee-Brago