BIFF tagged in series of Maguindanao bombings

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – The military yesterday blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for the spate of roadside bombings in Maguindanao targeting not only government forces but civilians as well.

"This is terrorism in action and we need the support of all people before we all become victims of this devious act," Capt. Joann Petinglay, regional Army spokersperson, said of the acts of the BIFF which pledged allegiance to international jihadist groups.

"Violence is going outside the battle zones in Datu Salibo and getting closer to civilian populace," she added.

Petinglay said the projects being protected by the military is for the people of Maguindanao and the conflict was not inflicted by the military.

"The dredging project is for all of you, after the project is completed, the soldiers will leave the area," she added.

Last Tuesday, the treasurer of Datu Salibo town, along with three others individuals were killed when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off as their vehicle passed by.

The latest BIFF attempt to set off improvised bomb was along a highway in Gindulungan town in Maguindanao.

An alert infantryman noticed a bag left unattended at a roadside. Army bomb experts quickly responded and confirmed it was a bomb then defused it, Col. Feliciano Budiongan, 601st Army brigade commander, told reporters.

A team of soldiers had just passed by the site when the IED was found.

Another IED exploded at a roadside in Barangay Crossing Taviran, about 700 meters away from an Army detachment and frequented by motorists.

"Luckily, no civilian commuters were hurt in the blast," he said.

The IED, according to Budiongan, was made of black powder, empty shells of ammunition, concrete nails, electrical wiring and chains for motorcycles.

The bombings along Maguindanao highways came as the Army and BIFF have been trading bullets and mortars in Datu Salibo since Feb. 5 after the lawless group attacked a government dredging project in town.

As expected, BIFF spokesperson Abu Misri Mama denied his group was behind roadside bombings, including in Datu Saudi Ampatuan that left a town treasurer and three others.

Petinglay said the BIFF bombings were diversionary tactics to ease up pressures in Datu Salibo.

”They (BIFF) cannot sustain skirmishes with government troops so they are into diversionary tactics,” she said. (PNA)