A joint military and police team fatally shot Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group sub-commander Yusa Ganoy and three of his companions on Friday, October 16, in Barangay Tapayan, Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte — after the suspects allegedly opened fire on government forces who had arrived to serve standing arrest warrants against him.
The Army's 6th Infantry Division (6ID) identified the slain commander by his alias "Minimi." As of the 6ID's initial report, the identities of his three companions had not yet been established.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to the 6ID, the mission was classified as a support-to-law-enforcement operation. Units involved included the 1st Marine Brigade, the 2nd Marine Battalion, and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–Regional Field Unit Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (CIDG-RFU BAR), working alongside other government forces.
The joint team moved in to execute existing warrants against Ganoy. At around 2:25 p.m., the 6ID said, Ganoy and his companions allegedly resisted arrest by opening fire on the approaching government personnel, who returned fire in response.
The 6ID reported that the exchange lasted approximately five minutes before ending with all four suspects dead.
Items Seized at the Scene
Four firearms were recovered from the site, according to military records. The CIDG provided a more detailed inventory, listing the seized items as one assault rifle, three .45-caliber pistols, and one improvised explosive device (IED).
The CIDG further described Ganoy as a sub-leader operating under the so-called Alpha King faction of the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group — a cell that authorities have connected to bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, as well as to killings and arson incidents in Maguindanao del Sur.
Charges Ganoy Was Facing at the Time of His Death
Ganoy carried multiple unresolved criminal charges at the time he was killed. The 6ID listed these as destructive arson, direct assault, multiple frustrated murder, double murder, qualified direct assault with multiple attempted murder, and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
6ID Acting Commander Issues Statement
Brigadier General Ricky P. Bunayog, acting commander of the 6ID, said through a statement that the operation was consistent with the government's sustained push to enforce the law against individuals facing serious criminal charges.
"The 6ID remains committed to maintaining peace and security in our area of responsibility, while ensuring that every operation is carried out in accordance with the law and with full respect for human rights," Bunayog said.
Bunayog also noted the importance of coordination between Armed Forces of the Philippines units and other law enforcement agencies in securing communities across the region, the 6ID said.
Ganoy's Prior Attack on Police
Security forces had been tracking Ganoy for several years before Friday's operation. Bangsamoro regional police attributed a August 2023 assault on a police detachment in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur — which left three policemen wounded — to a DI-Hassan Group unit operating under Ganoy's command.
Third Senior DI-Hassan Leader Killed in Ten Months
Friday's operation is part of a broader pattern of losses for the Dawlah Islamiyah-Hassan Group's leadership tier. Military and police records show that group leader Mohammad Usman Solaiman was killed in Shariff Aguak in December 2025, followed by the death of another senior figure, Marhum Esmael, during an operation in August 2026.
Ganoy's killing on October 16, 2026 makes him the third senior member of the faction to die within a span of roughly ten months, according to military and police records.
By the Numbers
- 4 — Suspects killed in the October 16 firefight
- 4 — Firearms recovered at the scene (1 assault rifle, 3 .45-caliber pistols)
- 1 — Improvised explosive device seized
- 5 minutes — Duration of the gunfight, per the 6ID
- 3 — Police personnel wounded in the August 2023 Datu Salibo attack linked to Ganoy's unit
- 3 — Senior DI-Hassan Group leaders killed since December 2025
Why This Matters
Ganoy's death removes a wanted commander whom authorities linked to bombings, arson, and multiple murder cases across the Bangsamoro region, including an attack that wounded three police officers. Combined with the earlier killings of DI-Hassan Group leaders Mohammad Usman Solaiman and Marhum Esmael, his death represents what military and police records describe as a sustained degradation of the faction's command structure over a ten-month period. The recovery of an IED at the scene points to the continuing threat the group poses to civilian and law enforcement communities in Maguindanao, according to the CIDG.
Source: breakingnewsnegor.com / Balita Negros Oriental