Army, rebels clash in Maguindanao

Seven killed and 200 families displaced by outbreak of fighting

Seven people were killed, including one soldier and six members of a FilipinoMuslim rebel group, in clashes in southern Philippines, reports said.

Six members of the rebel group calling itself the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the armed wing of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), were killed in the clashes in Pamalian village, Shariff Saydona town, Maguindanao, Col. Lito Sobejana of the Philippine Army said in a report that reached Manila on Thursday.

Two MG-520 attack helicopters were sent to support ground troops and fly out four wounded soldiers, said Sobejana, adding that 10 BIFF members were also injured, based on ground reports.

‘Breakaway faction’

Some 200 families displaced due to the fighting were temporarily housed in nearby school grounds, said Sobejana.

“Kagi Karialan, a self-proclaimed BIFM-BIFF leader was urged to surrender,” Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said in a statement sent to Manila’s military headquarters.

But Abu Misri Mama, BIFMBIFF spokesman said, “Karialan’s group is a breakaway faction.”

Karialan reportedly ousted Esmail Abu Bakr, alias ‘Bongos,’ who took over BIFM-BIFF’s leadership after the death of BIFM founder Ameril Umra Kato in 2015.

In 2008, Kato broke away from the 38-year old Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), after the Supreme Court ruled that the proposed Philippine government-MILF peace settlement was unconstitutional.

In 2010, Kato formed a 5,000 strong BIFF. The MILF declared the BIFM-BIFF as a renegade command in 2011. BIFM-BIFF also formed a tactical alliance with the 48-year old Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 2014.