Marine killed in fresh fighting between gov’t forces, BIFF near Mamasapano

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao – A Marine was killed while five others were wounded as fighting broke out anew between government troops and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) gunmen in Maguindanao.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the 6th Infantry Division, said the fighting, which started late Tuesday lasted until 1 a.m. Wednesday in Pusaw, a village that borders Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Mamasapano towns.

Petinglay said the operation was continuing in the hope of also netting Filipino bomber Basit Usman.

Usman, although reportedly wounded, managed to escape the January 25 elite police operation that resulted in the death of Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan.