9 gov’t soldiers injured, 4 BIFF fighters arrested

MANILA, Philippines—Nine soldiers were wounded amid all-out offensives against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao on Friday, the military said.

Operating troops of Joint Task Central were engaged in different areas at about 2p.m., Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay said.

The soldiers were immediately evacuated to nearby medical facilities, sketchy reports said.

Meanwhile, four BIFF fighters were arrested in the offensives in the villages of Dabunayan and Liab.

The fighters were identified as: 1) Aladin Panaydan, 22 years old; 2) Daud Balogat, 23 years old; 3) Ebrahim Oraw, 40 years old; and, 4) Abdul Madalidaw, 33 years old.

The soldiers were also able to recover the following: One (1).45-caliber pistol (Remington) including one (1) magazine and six (6) rounds of Ammo; one (1) 45-caliber Thompson sub-machine gun, IED paraphernalia, four (4) mobile phones and assorted war materials/documents, Petinglay said.