3 BIFF men hurt in clash with gov’t troops in Maguindanao — Army

Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were hurt in a clash with government forces in Maguindanao, on Thursday, the Army here said.

Three assault rifles were also recovered following a clash between BIFF and elements of the 45th Infantry Battalion in a remote village in the borders of Shariff Saydona and Mamasapano towns in Maguindanao, said Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao.

Hermoso said government forces and BIFF guerrillas, led by a certain Imam Tambako, opened fire at patrolling troops of the 45th IB at about 7 a.m. in Mamasapano, triggering a 30-minute firefight.

Hermoso said the rebels fled to the Maguindanao marshland, bringing with them three wounded comrades but left their rifles.

“The firearms were recovered along the escape route of the BIFF rebels,” Hermoso said, adding that the firearms, M-14 and M-16 rifles were stained with blood.

While the Army has stopped its massive manhunt for BIFF members following a major encounter in early February, soldiers have been regularly patrolling areas believed to be where the BIFF would move.

The military claimed 52 rebels and soldier were killed in two weeks air and ground assaults by government forces against BIFF forces in Maguindanao, which also displaced closed to 10,000 people.

Normalcy has been restored in affected towns.

The BIFF, which has said it is fighting for an independent Islamic state in Mindanao, broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has been negotiating peace with the Philippine government.

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