PNP, Army go after BIFF fugitives

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The police and military in North Cotabato and Maguindanao have intensified their enforcement operations against rogue Moro elements wanted for murder, kidnapping and other crimes.

Many of these criminals, according to Col. Dickson Hermoso of the Sixth Infantry Division Public Affairs Unit, are members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), who had launched massive attacks and harassments against civilians in Mid- sayap, North Cotabato two years ago.

These elements, Hermoso said, are facing charges of multiple murder, kidnapping, robbery, carnapping, and drug trafficking.

“We’re running after at least a hundred BIFF rebels who have been wanted for the crimes they committed against the people,” said the military official.

On Friday, the military’s 601st Brigade, together with some operatives of the Philippine National Police (PNP), launched pursuit operations against the criminals believed hiding in towns of Shariff Saydona and Sultan sa Bar- ongis, both in Maguindanao province.

They were armed with warrants of arrests.

Authorities, however, were met with mortars coming from the BIFF, according to Hermoso. The Army, positioned near the marsh, also launched mortar attacks against the enemies, he said.

As a result of the shelling, a group of civilians onboard a motorized banca was hit by a mortar. Two civilians, including an eight-year- old girl, died on the spot while another wounded. Three others survived by jumping into a nearby river.

Killed were Rayhana Akmad, 8, and Kinto Akmad, while wounded was identified as Leila Akmad, 15, all residents of Barangay Lagpan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

The victims were on their way to Barangay Kabasalan in Pikit, North Cotabato to seek shelter after their village was bombarded with mortar shelling.

At least 407 families from Datu Piang town have sought refuge in their relatives’ homes and the government’s multi-purpose buildings in Barangays Bulol, Kabasalan, and Macabual in Pikit, North Cotabato.