COTABATO CITY—On the last day of the three-day suspension of military operations (Somo) in Maguindanao province to allow graduation ceremonies, government forces and Moro rebels clashed anew in two areas, leaving a soldier killed and three others wounded, the Army here said.
As of 3 p.m. on Sunday, fighting was still ongoing in Barangay (village) Malangob in Datu Unsay town and in Barangay Pamalian in Shariff Saydona town, both in Maguindanao.
The fighting erupted when Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) guerrillas simultaneously attacked government forces conducting security patrol at 9:30 a.m., according to 601st Infantry Brigade commander Col. Melquiades Feliciano.
Feliciano said the three soldiers wounded in the encounter were rushed to Maguindanao Provincial Hospital. He did not identify the slain infantryman.
Citing intelligence reports, Feliciano said the BIFF guerrillas suffered at least three dead and three wounded in the firefight.
“Our troops were on patrol in Barangay Malangob when they were fired upon by BIFF forces,” Feliciano said. As the soldiers were battling BIFF guerrillas in Malangob, another band of BIFF fired at soldiers on patrol in Pamalian.
The clash sites were within the so-called “SPMS box,” which refers to the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona, all in Maguindanao where the BIFF strongholds were located.
Abu Misri Mama, speaking for the BIFF, confirmed the clash and admitted that three of his men were slightly wounded.
“Fighting is still going on,” Mama said, adding the Marines suffered four fatalities.
The 6th Infantry Division, which is spearheading the law enforcement operations against the BIFF, has unilaterally declared Somo on Thursday to pave the way for graduation ceremonies in conflict affected communities.
The Somo was to end on Sunday. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao