BIFF leader, 11 gunmen slain in Maguindanao Army assaults

INQUIRER FILES

CAMP SIONGCO, BARMM, Philippines — Military authorities on Monday announced that a dozen outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed, including its leader, during daylong skirmishes in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.

Among the fatalities was Kagi Karialan, leader of a Karialan of the Islamic State-linked BIFF, according to Major General Alex Rillera, commander of the 6th Infantry Division.

“The mayor of Datu Saudi Ampatuan also confirmed that Kagi Karialan was among the fatalities,” Rillera said.

The elusive Kagi Karialan is Mohiden Animbamg, according to the Army’s First Combat Brigade.

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Rillera said the bodies of the 12 slain terrorists were retrieved in a swampy area of Barnagay Kitango along with 12 assorted high-powered firearms.

“We cornered them in an open field, in a swampy area. Finally we got them, we have been running after them,” Rillera told reporters.

“We hope this will bring about peace in these communities so that development will come to Datu Saudi Ampatuan,” Rillera added.

He recalled that last week, elements of the First Combat Brigade, under Brigadier General Jose Vladimir Cagara, were tailing three BIFF members who entered a Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) area.

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“We did not pursue them because with respect to the peace process, we do not want to be peace spoilers, until early today they were monitored to have moved out of the village and an encounter ensued,” Rillera explained.

A spokesman for the BIFF, Abu Supyan, confirmed in a radio interview that, indeed, they lost 11 freedom fighters, and their leader, Kagi Karialan.

“We fought the soldiers from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., we were cornered, the military used air assets, we have nowhere to go,” Supyan told the INQUIRER. He did not say whether he was with the group of Karialan during the encounter.

Supyan said they would take revenge in due time. “The battle is not yet over, there is continuation,” he said.

Supyan said they suffered only 11 fatalities, including Karialan.

“We were just resting when the military attacked us,” Supyan said in Filipino, adding that the Army also suffered casualties but could not say how many were dead or injured.