ZAMBOANGA CITY: Four gunmen, two of them suspected drug dealers with links to the jihadist Maute group, were killed in separate operations in Lanao del Sur at dawn on Tuesday.

Philippine Army Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, said the first gunbattle erupted in the town of Maguing after security forces swooped down before 3 a.m. on the hideout of suspected drug dealers with links to the Maute group.