Barangay officials repel BIFF attack in North Cotabato

Members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Armed barangay (village) officials thwarted an attacking force of Islamic extremists on the dead of night on Tuesday in North Cotabato, a military official said Thursday.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, Public Affairs Officer of the 6th Infantry Division, said a group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters tried to attack and enter a village in Balique, Midsayap, North Cotabato at around 10 in the evening.

“This BIFF don’t want anything to do but disturb and harass Christian communities in North Cotabato,” Petinglay said.

She added that the rebels have tried multiple attempts to attack similar communities but failed.

“They’ve done it before, and again they failed this time around as the community was ready to face them.”

The village was in a far-flung area in North Cotabato and was easily accessible to BIFF elements.

Petinglay said that the barangay officials know that they are vulnerable to such threats and that they have prepared measures to counter the problem.

There were no recorded casualties in the skirmish and the government troops stationed in the area pursued the Islamic extremists.