Army overruns hideout where BIFFs assemble bombs in Maguindanao

The shanty in the middle of Maguindanao marshland, where members of BIFF make bombs, according to the Army. | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY THE PHILIPPINE ARMY

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – Government forces have overrun a shanty where members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were believed to be manufacturing improvised bombs in the middle of Maguindanao marshland, the Army said Monday.

Colonel Oriel Pangcog, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade based in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, said materials and documents used by the homegrown terror group were found in the small house in Sitio Pedtad, Barangay Inaladan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao.

Pangcog said the clearing operation that started on Friday also led to the recovery of improvised bombs and bomb-making components.

Government forces were pursuing the group of Commander Ysa Ganoy, Abdulkarim Hashim alias Boy Jacket, Ben Harrsi and Emarudin Kulay, all BIFF field commanders when they came upon the bomb-making shanty.

Improvised bombs and their components seized during the clearing operations in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao. | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY THE PHILIPPINE ARMY

Pangcog said the documents that the soldiers recovered showed the terrorist group’s thrust to sabotage the ongoing peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Earlier, Datu Saydona Mustapha town residents had complained of being harassed by the BIFF, who reportedly mulcted money from and imposed forced taxation on them.

Pangcog said farmers and fisher folks complained of being prevented by the BIFF from going to their farms or fishing in the marshland.

While the Army continues its operation against the local terror groups, Pangcog said the government remained open to those who wished to surrender.

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