DEACTIVATED. This improvised bomb recovered beside the slain BIFF member in Maguindnao was made from two 60mm mortar rounds with hand-held radio as triggering device. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
CAMP SIONCO, MAGUINDANAO – A bomber of Moro extremist armed group operating in Maguindanao was killed in a clash with government forces in Maguindanao Sunday, the military reported.
Troops belonging to the 601st Brigade were on patrol in the village of Damablac, Talayan, Maguindanao at past 12 noon when they clashed with at least 20 heavily armed members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), under the Bungos faction and led by Khadaffi Abdulatif, according to Colonel Oriel Pangcog, 601st Army brigade commander.
A brief firefight ensued until the BIFF fled.
“Our troops were on patrol when they chanced upon the terrorist group,” Colonel Pangcog said in a statement. “The soldiers chased the BIFF who fled and mingled with the civilians in Barangay Damablac,” he added.
Soldiers scouring the area found a dead BIFF abandoned by his companions in the roadside along with an improvised bomb composed of two 60 mm mortars with Icom radio as triggering device.
A civilian identified as UtainKalatungan, 46, was injured and was rushed by soldiers to the Maguindanao provincial hospital for treatment.
Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, 6th Infantry Division commander, said the military remained open for BIFF members who would surrender to the government.
“The 6th ID is offering peace and hope the BIFF will avail of it soonest,” said Maj. Gen. Galido, also commander of Joint Task Force Central.
Since January this year, five BIFF members, including the recent one in Talayan town, were killed while 154 others have surrendered to the government.