7 MILF men hurt in Maguindanao blast

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao –– Seven members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were hurt when an improvised bomb exploded while they were pursuing Islamic State-linked gunmen in Maguindanao, the Army said.

Major Arvin John Encinas, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson, said troops of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion and members of the MILF national guard were pursuing Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) militants when an improvised bomb went off around 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

The BIFF was responsible for the murder of eight MILF members early this month in Barangay Dasawao, Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.

Injured and now undergoing medical treatment are Norhamen Sandigan, Akmad Quialodi, Fajad Matabalao, Dagol Palano, Islamin Esmael, Haron Adam and Hamid Matabalao, all members of MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, which is undergoing a decommissioning process.

The wounded Moro fighters were rushed to a hospital in Datu Piang, Maguindanao and later transferred to a bigger hospital in Midsayap, Cotabato.

Encinas said the blast occurred in the area where government forces found an improvised bomb last Oct. 20, and three other bombs on Oct. 23.

All the recovered bombs and the one that exploded bore the BIFF signature, said Encinas./lzb