BIFF unit leader killed in Maguindanao clash

DAVAO CITY – Government forces killed a suspected pro-Islamic State (IS) militant in a clash early Monday in the province of Maguindanao.

According to Lt. Col. Benjamin Cadiente Jr., commanding officer of the 33rd Infantry ‘Makabayan’ Battalion, the troops from the 33rd Infantry Battalion clashed with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), under the command of Ustadz Karialan (also known as Imam Minimbang) in the village of Duguengen, Shariff Saydona Mustapha town around 2:15 a.m.

Killed in the clash was Ramos Amilil, a sub-leader of the BIFF Kagi Karialan faction.

Colonel Oriel L Pangcog, commander of the 601st Infantry (Unifier) Brigade, said soldiers were conducting a clearing operation when Amilil’s group opened fire at them.

“The firefight lasted about eleven minutes after which, the BIFF members scampered towards different directions,leaving behind their casualty,” Pangcog said.

The soldiers recovered Amilil’s body along with one M14 rifle, one M16, magazines, a bandolier and several pieces of ammunition.

Major General Roberto S Capulong, acting commander of the 6th Infantry ‘Kampilan Division and Joint Task Force Central, lauded the troops for the successful operation.

“The death of Amilil is a big loss to the BIFF, a local terrorist group,” he said as he urged the rest of the group to surrender to the government.

BIFF is a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), a former rebel group that signed a peace deal with the government and whose leaders now headed a transitional government in the Bangsamoro autonomous region. Jeoffrey Maitem, Edwin Fernandez