Dozens of Philippine militants killed

MANILA: A total of 44 militants have been killed in continuing clashes between government troops and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (Biff), an army spokesperson said yesterday.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gerry Besana told reporters the military offensive which started on Thursday was continuing, and so far 44 militants have been killed and 26 wounded.

Besana said the number of casualties was based on “intelligence information”, noting that troops did not recover the bodies of the dead fighters.

The military reported on Friday that heavy fighting broke out around 6am local time on Thursday between government troops and some 50 militants in the southern Philippines in Lower Salbu, a village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province that resulted in the initial deaths of 12 Biff militants. Besana said the fighting spread to nearby villages in Datu Saudi and Datu Unsay.

The number of the Biff swelled to about 100, prompting the troops to call for reinforcements. The troops used artillery and military aircraft to pound the Biff position.

“Many died in the ground operations on the first day, many also died on the second day during artillery and close air support (operations),” Besana said.

He said 34 of the 44 militants who were reported killed had been identified by their relatives.

The Biff is composed of around 300 men, based on the latest estimate. The military classifies the group as a terrorist organisation, along with the Abu Sayyaf group.

Besana said the military believed that at least 70 Biff had been killed and injured in past clashes. “We are still pursuing about 200 more,” he said.

The latest fighting had displaced about 500 families, based on the count of local government officials. The military was helping in attending to the needs of the displaced population, said Besana.

Biff members are mostly disgruntled former members of the larger insurgent group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has signed a peace accord with the government.

The Biff is among the several groups in Mindanao that pledged allegiance to Islamic State a few years ago.