Military overruns BIFF camp in Maguindanao

Datu Salibo, Maguindanao (Google maps)

COTABATO CITY—Soldiers from the Philippine Army captured the camp of the Islamic State-inspired faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, the military said on Friday.

This happened following clashes between government forces and its allies in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) against heavily armed members of the BIFF.

Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central, said the military captured on Thursday the BIFF camp where the faction of Esmael Abdulmalik had been taking refuge since last month.

In the camp, dela Vega said in statement, elements of the 57thInfantry Battalion recovered the body of a slain BIFF fighter, four improvised explosive devices, two M-14 rifles, an M-16 Armalite rifle and ISIS flags.

The slain BIFF member was later identified by villagers as Ansari Alimama, a Maranao from Butig town in Lanao del Sur and believed to be allied with the Maute terrorist group, according to Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director.

Barangay Tee had been the object of occasional air strikes when the MILF provided the information to the Army about the BIFF Abdulmalik faction’s location.

Lieutenant Colonel Gerry Besana, spokesperson of Task Force Central, said the Army is verifying reports from the locals that four BIFF members were executed by Abdulmalik on suspicion that they were providing the Army and the MILF their location through text messages.

“The barangay and local leaders have been providing us information about it and we are validating it,” Besana said. /jpv