Military preparing for BIFF retaliatory attacks

FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The military is preparing for possible retaliatory attacks from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao even as it ended its weeklong offensive.

“We are expecting [retaliation] because they were injured and they planted bombs like on Saturday, which injured media [personnel] and civilians. They also placed improvised explosive devices in the highway of Guindulungan yesterday (Sunday). Good thing it was reported immediately and we were able to defuse it,” Colonel Dickson Hermoso, Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesperson said.

On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines finished its operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, after it seized four rebel camps and a bomb factory in Sharriff Saydona Mustapha town.

The military’s law enforcement operations started last Monday when they backed police troops that will serve arrest warrant on BIFF members facing criminal charges. This sparked the clashes.

“We are clearing and sanitizing the area if there were any unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices,” Hermoso said.

The fighting displaced 9,000 persons in several towns, Hermoso said, adding that they could finally return to their homes by Tuesday.

Hermoso said they are heightening their proactive and preemptive security measures.

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