BIFF TRAINER SLAIN IN MAGUINDANAO FIREFIGHT
A TRAINING officer of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed in a clash with army soldiers in Maguindanao del Sur last week.
Maj. Andrew Linao, Western Mindanao Mindanao acting chief of the Public Information Office, said in a belated report that the BIFF rebel was killed in a clash at Sitio Binnakuyan, Barangay Lower Saba, Datu Saudi Ampatuan.
Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzales said soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat
Team (1BCT) were conducting a military operation when they encountered an undetermined number of BIFF. The fight lasted for 20 minutes before the rebels retreated.
Linao said as soldiers scoured the scene of fighting, troops recovered the body of Abu Halil, a training officer of BIFF-KF and brother of Khadafi Abdulatif, chief of staff of the BIFF-Bungos Faction.
The firefight resulted in the recovery of one 5.56 M16 rifle, four long magazines and other equipment. The body and the recovered items were turned over to the Scene of Crime Operation team and Datu Saudi Ampatuan PNP for further dispositive action.
Gonzales commended the Joint Task Force Central troops, particularly the 1BCT, for the accomplishment.
“We are in pursuit of the remaining members of the BIFF and other threat groups in our area of operation. We maximize our efforts to disallow the menaces of society to thrive in the communities and plot terroristic activities, especially during the Holy Week,” Gonzales said.
Meanwhile, eight Daulah Islamiyah-Turaifie Group (DI-TG) and seven BIFF-Karialan Faction (KF) members laid down their arms and returned to the folds of the law last March 25.
Gonzales said the former DI-TG members were residents of Ganta, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, while the former BIFF-KF members were from Penditin, Datu Salibo and Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, all of Maguindanao del Sur.
Gonzales attributed the successful surrender of the former violent extremists to the steadfast resolve of the 6th Infantry Battalion and the intelligence units in the area.
The surrenderers handed over various firearms, including one 81 mm mortar and two Barret cal. 50 sniper rifles, two M14 rifles, one M16 rifle, one M653 rifle, one Garand rifle, one cal. 7.62 mm sniper rifle, one cal. 50 sniper rifle, one cal. 5.56 mm sniper rifle, one cal. 30 sniper rifle, and one cal. 45 pistol.
The surrenderers were presented to Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade; Maguindanao del Sur Vice Gov. Datu Nathaniel Midtimbang; and other military and local government officials at the 6th Infantry Battalion Headquarters in Barangay Buayan, Datu Piang.
The surrender of the local terrorists is a result of the collaborative efforts of the military, local government units, stakeholders and peace-loving citizens of Maguindanao del Sur.