Army launches air, ground strikes vs alleged terrorists in Maguindanao

FLEEING TO SAFER GROUNDS. Residents of Barangay Butelin, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur fled to safer grounds after the military launched air and ground assaults against local terrorists on Saturday morning, May 25, 2024. Photos from Tiyakap Kalilintad (Care for Peace)

CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE — The military launched on Saturday dawn air and ground assaults against suspected Dawlah Islamiyah terrorists in the marshland of Maguindanao del Sur.

Abdulrashid Tanto, a resident of Datu Salibo town, said he and his family were awakened by explosions, prompting them to immediately evacuate their home.

“May binobomba, sabi ko sa misis ko, kaya’t bakwit kami agad,” Tanto told the Inquirer in an interview.

(There’s bombing, my wife said, so we immediately evacuated.)

Tanto and several other residents of Barangay Butilen have fled to safer grounds beginning at 5:30 a.m.

Barangay captain Datu Nash Sandigan helped his constituents cross the marshland from the village while strikes continued from helicopter gunships and artillery.

He said about 50 families have fled to nearby villages, bringing valuables and work animals.

“Air strikes have stopped but the residents still refuse to return home,” Sandigan said.

Lt. Col. Roden Orbon, speaking for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, confirmed the air strikes but stressed these movements were far away from communities.

“The operation is in response to the reports of the people in the communities regarding the presence of local terrorist groups in the area,” he said.

“We are assuring the people in the community that the local government and the military will protect and secure them,” he added.

There were reports on the ground that one sub-leader of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters was killed and several firearms were recovered in the military operation.

The Army spokesperson has yet to receive official reports on this information.

On Friday, eight BIFF members surrendered.

They turned over 15 assorted firearms, grenade launchers and improvised bombs to the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, headed by Lt. Col. Guillermo T. Mabute Jr.

Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said those who surrendered belong to the BIFF’s Karialan and Bungos factions, which are rabidly loyal to the IS.

“Due to intensified and decisive military operations, as well as hunger and exhaustion from continuous hiding in the mountains, eight former members of local terrorist groups have surrendered,” Rillera said.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade, said the former BIFF gunmen admitted to their participation in multiple atrocities including bombings, harassment of military patrol bases and a series of ambush.