Army launches 2-hour air strike vs BIFF in Maguindanao; troops claim killing 8 more rebels

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao, Philippines – Government security forces carried out on Sunday a two-hour airstrike against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Guindulungan, Maguindanao.

Capt. Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the military’s 6th Division, said two MG-520 attack helicopters were dispatched for the air assault on the position of the BIFF in the marshy areas of Guindulungan.

“The air offensive lasted for more than two hours. There is an ongoing combat operation in the area,” Petinglay told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

On Saturday, soldiers killed eight more BIFF rebels, bringing to 104 the total dead in the ongoing offensives against the BIFF.

But the military said only four bodies of the slain BIFF rebels were recovered.

Petinglay said troops also seized a BIFF camp in the village of Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town after their ground and artillery attacks on Saturday.

Petinglay said seven 60mm mortar fuse, gun powder, short steel magazine of M-16 rifle, electrical wires and several mobile phones, were also recovered inside the camp.

A second encampment was also overrun by government soldiers.

“We believe our high-value target is still in Maguindanao,” Petinglay said.

On the government side, six soldiers were killed in the fighting, while 21 were wounded.

The all-out military offensives against the BIFF and bombmaker Basit Usman, started more than two weeks ago. The fighting has already displaced more than 90,000 people in Maguindanao.