SHARIFF AGUAK, Dec. 8 -- Government troops killed a wanted local terrorist leader in a clash in a remote village here Sunday morning, military officials reported.

The suspect, identified as Ustads Mohammad Usman Solaiman, was the leader of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group and a known bomb maker, according to Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, commander of the Army's 601st Infantry Brigade.

Soldiers engaged Solaiman's group around 5 a.m. in Barangay Satan after civilians reported armed men extorting farmers. His companions managed to escape.

"He (Solaiman) was also involved in the robbery and killing of three hybrid goat vendors from Batangas in June 2025, whose remains were buried in a grave in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao del Sur...