Thousands displaced in BIFF, AFP clashes

More than 24,000 residents of six towns in Maguindanao have fled their homes as the military conducted airstrikes and ground assault against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The villagers have sought refuge in schools, makeshift tents or with their relatives since the military launched the operations on May 5, Jofelle Delicana, spokesperson for the civil defense office, told AFP on Thursday.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, public affairs chief of the 6th Infantry Division (ID), said reports from civilians and intelligence sources indicate that at least 31 BIFF militants, including one of their leaders, Ismael Abubakar, alias Commander Bungos, as well as two of his aides were killed in the firefights.

“We believe they are among the dead, considering our information that they were in the location hit by airstrikes,” Encinas said.

Seven soldiers were also wounded in the clashes.

However, Encinas said no bodies had been recovered and that the death toll could not be verified.

“We used all available air and artillery assets,” he said.

Encinas said six Indonesian militants, who are training BIFF men in bombmaking, were among the remnants of the group that they are targeting.

“Our assessment is that they have less space to move around... because all available troops have been deployed,” Encinas said.

11 BIFF men slain

At least 11 more BIFF members were killed in encounters in Datu Salibo and nearby towns from Monday to Wednesday, the military reported on Thursday.

Nine of the fatalities were identified only as Zaman, Pulo, Omar, Sajid, Muktar, Bantas, Odin, Tasil and Abdullah.

Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th ID commander, said soldiers recovered 40 firearms and 18 improvised bombs in BIFF camps that they seized since January.

The BIFF boasts allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and is using the black ISIS flag as its banner.

Local officials in areas with BIFF presence called on the Department of the Interior and Local Government to put up rewards for the arrest of the leaders of the militant group.