ZAMBOANGA CITY – Two Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in a clash early Sunday with government forces in the province of Maguindanao.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the troops were conducting focused military operation when they clashed with a group of BIFFs around 6 a.m. Sunday in Barangay Mao, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao.
Vinluan said that the firefight lasted for about 10 minutes that resulted to the death of the two BIFFs after which the rest scampered to different directions. There was no casualty on the government troops.
Vinluan said that the identities of the two slain BIFFs were not immediately known except that they belong to the BIFF-Karialan faction led by Mohiden Animbang alias Karialan.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central commander, said the troops have discovered two foxholes believed to have been dug by the BIFF a few months ago.
Uy, who is also the 6th Infantry Division commander, said the troops also recovered two bandoliers with two long magazines for M-1 rifle with 50 rounds of ammunition, two backpacks with personal belongings, assorted foodstuff and a gun part.
He said that troops are tracking down the rest of the fleeing BIFF members.
Since January, a total of 89 BIFF terrorists were neutralized in Central Mindanao. Of the total, 41 were killed and 48 have surrendered. – Nikolai Gonzalo
