Army vows sustained offensive against BIFF

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- The military said Monday its “surgical operation” against the Islamic Statelinked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) has so far resulted in the recovery and deactivation of 34 powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Maguindanao.

“The government’s good intension will continue to defeat the ill-motives of the BIFF terrorists,” said Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force

Central.

The offensive was launched after military intelligence confirmed information that the lawless elements have plotted to set off IEDs in civilian communities in the region.

So far, the military said it has recovered and deactivated a total of 34 powerful IEDs of various make and detonating mechanism since Nov. 15 in the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Datu Saudi, Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, all in Maguindanao’s second district where the BIFF mainly operates.

The surgical operation later stretched out to the towns of Datu Piang, Guindulungan, and Datu Anggal Midtimbang, also in Maguindanao’s second district.

Carreon said that aside from IEDs, the military forces under the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, also seized more than 20 high-powered firearms and mortar tube with live ammunition, grenades, and launchers, to include machine guns and black ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) flags, among others.

The military suffered three fatalities and a dozen wounded in the continuing operations while the BIFF sustained 15 fatalities based on information from village officials in affected communities and still being validated by the soldiers.

Carreon said no civilian was hurt in the operations. However, at least 40,000 civilians have been displaced by the skirmishes, the provincial social welfare office reported.