Soldier hurt as BIFF sets off roadside bomb in Maguindanao

FILE PHOTO BY JEOFFREY MAITEM/INQUIRER MINDANAO

COTABATO CITY – A soldier was injured when suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) set off a roadside improvised bomb in Datu Hofer town, Maguindanao, Thursday morning.

Capt. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said two military vehicles loaded with soldiers from the 38th Infantry Battalion were proceeding to the Ampatuan town in Maguindanao at 7:45 a.m. when the improvised explosive device exploded along a highway in Datu Hofer town in Maguindanao.

A shrapnel hit the windshield of the Army vehicle, hitting its driver, Sgt. Michael Mabazza, Encinas said.

Senior Superintendent Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said Mabazza and his companions were on board a military vehicle passing by a stretch of the Cotabato-Isulan Highway in Barangay Labo-Labo in Datu Hofer when a roadside bomb, apparently detonated from a distance using a mobile phone, went off.

Police investigation showed that the IED was similar to the ones used by the BIFF in its attack against government forces in Maguindanao.

Before Thursday’s roadside bombing, an improvised bomb was also found Tuesday in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao but safely detonated by Army bomb experts.

On Monday night, an IED exploded at 6 p.m. at the main gate of the Talayan town hall and another IED planted under the Tamontaka Bridge was detonated by bomb experts.

The BIFF, through it spokesperson Abu Misry Mama, denied his group was involved.  SFM/rga

Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao (Wikipedia maps)