Soldiers confiscate BIFF guns in North Cotabato

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Military forces conducting law enforcement operations in areas believed to be lairs of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom fighters (BIFF) on Saturday seized high-powered guns and other war materiel in North Cotabato.

Army troopers and police personnel under Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) found the war materiel in an abandoned house in Barangay Nabalawag, Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Earlier, civilians tipped off elements of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion about the presence of gunmen in the area later identified as BIFF.

Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, 6th Infantry Division commander and head of JTFC, in a statement, said the rebels fled to different directions upon noticing the troops and left behind their war materiel.

The troops recovered two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, various magazines and several rounds of ammunition, bandoliers, and backpacks.

Carreon commended the troops for the recovery of the war materiel.

“We will not stop pursuing these terrorists most especially during this holiday season. This is to ensure that these terror groups will not

have the capability to disrupt the peace here in Mindanao,” Carreon said. The discovery of firearms came a day after elements of 7th Infantry Battalion found a dozen “complete” improvised explosive devices in Barangay Manaulanan, Pikit, North Cotabato after a brief firefight with the BIFF faction of Esmael Abubakar alias Commander Bungos. At least 60 improvised explosive devices have also been recovered by the military in Maguindanao and North Cotabato as a result of intensified focused military operations against the BIFF