Maguindanao del Sur. INQUIRER FILES
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – The military has announced on Saturday that a ranking official of terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed in a clash with government forces in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur amid pitch darkness.
Brig. Gen. Jose Vladimir Caraga, commander of the Army’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, said a 20-minute armed encounter in Sitio Binakuyan, Barangay Lower Salbu occurred at around 2:30 a.m. on Friday resulting in the killing of Abu Halil who was profiled to be the training officer of the BIFF faction led by Kagi Karialan.
Caraga added that Abu Halil is the brother of Khadafi Abdulatif, chief of staff of Ustadz Kagi Karialan.
Founded by the late Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato in 2010, the BIFF broke into three factions upon his death in 2015. The one led by Karialan is closely allied with global terror network Islamic State, and operates mainly in the towns of Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak, Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
READ: BIFF owns ambush that killed 4 soldiers
A team of soldiers from the Army’s combat team was sent to Barangay Lower Salbu to verify reports from civilians about the presence of BIFF in Sitio Binakuyan. Gunfight ensued when the BIFF gunmen opened fire on the approaching soldiers.
Amid the exchange of gunfire, the BIFF gunmen also maneuvered a retreat toward the marshland.
At the break of dawn, soldiers conducting clearing operations found the body of Abu Halil left by his comrades in the clash site, an M16 rifle with ammunition found behind him.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, commended the troops for netting a slippery BIFF leader.
The operation in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town came a day after five BIFF members surrendered to the military in Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur.
On Thursday, Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, welcomed to the fold of the law the five former BIFF gunmen who also used to be followers of Karialan, in surrender rites at Rajah Buayan town, Maguindanao del Sur.
The group turned in a homemade 50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle and four Garand rifles to the military.