BIFF gunmen abduct 6 farmers in Maguindanao, but 4 manage to escape

Maguindanao (outlined in red) (Image from Google Maps)

MAGUINDANAO — Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) gunmen seized six lumad farmers in Datu Hofer town in Maguindanao on Wednesday, but four of them managed to escape, authorities said Thursday.

The two other victims remained in captivity, according to Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, chief of the the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office.

Tello said the abduction happened just as the military intensified its offensive against the Islamic State-inspired BIFF starting on Christmas Day.

The six members of the Teduday tribe were on their way to their farms in Barangay Limpongo when the BIFF flagged them down.

They were identifed as identified as Kannie MInggil, Mael Minggil, Elvin Minggil, Uzik Labina, Kew Mintos, and Kong Mintos.

The three Minggil siblings and Labina managed to flee while their captors were resting in an open field following hours of walking to evade pursuing soldiers from the 57th Infantry Battalion.

According to Tello, police in Datu Hofer received reports from barangay officials on Thursday about the discovery of two unidentified male bodies in nearby Barangay Kabintog, also in Datu Hofer.

But it was still being ascertained if they were the Mintoses.

Military officials said the abduction of the six farmers were obviously in retaliation for the losses the BIFF had suffered following intensified military air strikes and ground assaults.

Maj. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division commander, said soldiers were now helping local officials search for the two Teduray men held captive by BIFF bandits.

Tello said police forensic experts were in the process of identifying the two bodies.

Earlier on Wednesday, gunmen shot dead Diego Met Dagadas, a Teduday chieftain, in front of his home in Barangay Firis, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

/atm