BIFF-Army fighting dislocates hundreds

COTABATO CITY—Hundreds of people have fled their homes to safe grounds for fear of getting caught in the crossfire between Moro rebels and government forces in Datu Salibo, a poor municipality in Maguindanao province.

Four civilians have been wounded so far in the fighting, which began on Friday, said Alex Manuel, action officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

On Sunday, snipers of the Bangamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fired several times at Army soldiers deployed to protect workers in a river dredging project in Datu Salibo, according to the military.

Using Barret cal. 50 rifles, the rebels targeted soldiers belonging to the 22nd Mechanized Company and stationed in a detachment near the project site in Barangay Butalo, said Capt. Joann Petinglay, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

No casualty was reported on the government forces from the sniper attacks at 6 a.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The dredging project in the Butilen River, funded by the development fund of Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu (second district), aims to prevent floods in Datu Salibo, a sixth-class municipality (annual income: less than P15 million).

Petinglay said the project had been put on hold unless the security of the workers is guaranteed.

The BIFF, which broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) several years ago over disagreement in pursuing peace negotiations with the Aquino administration, reported that its members had set on fire two heavy equipment of a private company involved in the dredging operations.

“We set the backhoe on fire because the contractor did not coordinate with us and they violated the right-of-way claim of the landowners,” the rebel group’s spokesperson, Abu Misri Mama, said in a radio interview.

“We will shoot anyone—soldiers, engineers, construction workers— once you move forward,” Mama said in another interview. He warned that the BIFF would continue shooting at them “unless you coordinate with us.”

Mama said five soldiers, including a captain, were killed during clashes with BIFF rebels that began on Friday. But Petinglay said Capt. Jimmy Amoloy, commander of the 22nd Mechanized Company, and a certain Private First Class Robles, were only slightly hurt.

Petinglay said she had received information that more than 20 BIFF rebels were killed, but added: “We cannot confirm nor deny that because we have not recovered dead bodies.”

Mama said his group did not suffer any fatality. “Not even scratches. Our troops were just tired,” he said in a phone interview.

Petinglay said the BIFF was showing its true colors that it was against a development project that would benefit the people it vowed to protect.

“The project will benefit every Datu Salibo resident, including relatives of the BIFF,” she said. The government, including the Army security force, does not need to “coordinate” with a lawless group, she said.

Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu has ordered the provincial relief team to attend to the needs of at least 1,500 families displaced by the clashes, Manuel said. Reports from Edwin O. Fernandez and Jeoffrey Maitem, Inquirer Mindanao