3 BIFF members killed in Mamasapano clash
Maguindanao del Sur
MANILA, Philippines — Three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed during a clash with government troops in Barangay Liab, Mamasapano town in Maguindanao del Sur over the weekend, the Philippine Army said in a statement on Tuesday.
Lt. Col. Benjamin Cadiente, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said they launched a fire mission on the position of the men belonging to the BIFF faction led by a certain “Boy Jacket.”
A fire mission consists of an observer communicating with a fire direction center to guide artillery towards a target.
A fatality was only identified with his alias, Suharto. The rest have yet to be identified.
One BIFF member was also injured in the firefight.
Government troops recovered two homemade revolvers (a .38- caliber and 5.56 mm), a .45-caliber pistol, two 40-mm grenade launcher rounds, and three improvised explosive devices.
Cadiente said the operation was launched based on information from local residents.
“We received information from residents regarding the presence of Boy Jacket’s group. The residents also do not want the BIFF to stay in their area so they forwarded the information to us,” Cadiente said.
