(FILE) Members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in their hideout in the remote village of Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao province. About 1,000 BIFF men are reportedly ready to join the Bangsamoro government. —JEOFFREY MAITEM
CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO—Two more members of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in a clash with soldiers in Barangay (village) Mao, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao before dawn on Sunday, May 16, the military reported.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, said the slain BIFF members were part of the group of 60 armed men who occupied Datu Paglas town public market on May 8 before soldiers arrived in the area and drove them away.
The Army-led Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) clashed with the BIFF fighters under Mohiden Animbang alias Kagi Karialan for about 15 minutes before dawn on Sunday, five days after another clash that killed five BIFF members in Sitio Linek, Barangay Digal, Buluan, Maguindanao on Wednesday.
Uy said no casualty was reported on the government side as the remains of the two slain BIFF men were turned over to the local government unit.
“Our troops continued our focused military operation in Datu Paglas,” Uy said.
Soldiers also found a bandolier with two long magazines for an M16 rifle, 50 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, two civilian backpacks with personal belongings, a broken handguard of an M16 rifle, and assorted food items from the clash site.
“I directed more troops to reinforce the engaging units and to blockade the enemy’s withdrawal routes to ensure that no one could escape,” Uy said.
Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Western Mindanao Command chief, lauded the JTFC and 6th ID’s continued operations amid the light-to-heavy downpour in Maguindanao.
From January 2021 up to the present, a total of 41 BIFF members have been killed and 48 surrendered. JTF Central also recovered 56 firearms, of which, 52 were high-powered.