Army to set up 4 detachments in Maguindanao

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine military will set up four detachments in areas in Maguindanao where they captured camps of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

“We will set up our own presence so we can continue clearing the area from BIFF… Right now we will put detachments there,” military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala told reporters on Wednesday.

Zagala said the detachments will be placed at the villages of Gana, Daswad, Bakat and Damabalas.

The troops will come from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, adding that they have sufficient forces in Central Mindanao.

The weeklong offensive of the military in parts of Maguindanao against the BIFF last week, dubbed as Operation Darkhorse II, resulted in the capture of four BIFF camps, recovery of several firearms and the capture of a makeshift bomb factory in Ganta village. It also killed about 50 BIFF rebels and injured 49 of them.

“The mere presence is deterrence for the enemy not to return. It is a way for us to patrol bigger portion of the influence area and rid the influence area of the enemy,” Zagala said.

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