MANILA, Philippines — Seven alleged elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed while a policeman was injured in a clash in Maguindanao del Sur, Philippine Army’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) reported on Monday.
The joint military and police operation was supposed to enforce a search warrant against alleged BIFF-Karialan faction members Nasser Yussef Hussain, a.k.a. Tutin Usop, and Nurjihad Husain, a.k.a. Datdat Usop in Barangay Damawato, Datu Paglas when they were shot by armed men.
“When they were approaching the subject’s residence, an undetermined number of BIFF members fired upon the government forces, which resulted in the wounding of one police personnel,” Wesmincom said.
“Troops fired back, which also resulted in the deaths of the seven BIFF members, including the two subjects of the search warrants,” it added.
Wesmincom withheld the names of the five other fatalities.
Authorities seized six high-powered firearms and assorted ammunition, including one Uzi, two M16 rifles, and three caliber 45 pistols from the said clash with the alleged members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Meanwhile, the wounded cop was brought to a hospital in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat.
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