BIFF bomb-making expert slain in North Cotabato

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A bomb-making expert of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed in a joint police and military operation in Aleosan, North Cotabato Thursday, the military said yesterday.

Joint Task Force Central Commander Maj Gen Arnel Dela Vega said BIFF Subleader Commander Buds Basilan was killed in a joint operation conducted by soldiers of the 34th Infantry Battalion and the Aleosan police in Barangay Puypuyan, Aleosan, North Cotabato at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Dela Vega said Basilan was killed after he refused to give himself up when authorities came to arrest him, and decided to shoot it out with the soldiers and policemen.

He said Basilan is listed 209th in the most wanted list under Martial Law Instruction Number 1, series of 2017 and 120th in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Periodic Status Report.

“Our soldiers and policemen have been tracking (Basilan) and was about to apprehend him when he shot at the authorities resulting in the encounter,” the JTF Central commander said.

According to Dela Vega, Basilan, who belongs to the Karialan Faction of the BIFF, was responsible for the manufacture of bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used in terror attacks in Aleosan, Midsayan and Carmen – all in North Cotabato.