Military campaign vs. BIFF continues

NORTH COTABATO – Security forces continue its operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in North Cotabato where militants have taken refuge in the province.

Military propagandists said many BIFF members were killed in the fighting since early this month and that soldiers recovered a huge cache of weapons from the campaign which is being supported by civilians and local governments. But Abu Misri Mama, a spokesman for the militant group, strongly denied military reports during a recent interview with radio station dxms-radyo Bida.

Major General Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, has repeatedly urged BIFF members to surrender peacefully. “We encourage other members of the BIFF as this is a good opportunity for them to live a better life and eye-opener that the soldiers will not hurt them,” he said.

Just last week, four BIFF members surrendered to the military, but security officials withheld the names of the militants to protect them from retaliation by the notorious group linked to the Islamic State.

The four fighters also surrendered their weapons – an anti-tank rocket launcher, two automatic rifles and a Garand rifle – when they yielded to 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion in Ampatuan town.

Their surrender came following recent clashes between troops and BIFF militants in Maguindanao’s Shariff Saydona Mustapha town where 2 soldiers had been wounded. But the military said it was able to recover assorted weapons left behind by the BIFF.

Soldiers on the hunt for BIFF gunmen in the South. (Photo by Mark Navales)