North Cotabato clashes claim 10th rebel fatality

KIDAPAWAN CITY—Fighting between government forces and Moro breakaway rebels entered its sixth day on Sunday, raising the death toll to 10, the Army said.

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) suffered its latest fatality after a clash with Army soldiers belonging to the 7th Infantry Battalion in Barangay (village) Paidu Pulangi, Pikit town, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, said Capt. Antonio Bulao, speaking for the 602nd Infantry Brigade based in Carmen town, North Cotabato province.

Former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front formed the BIFF as the main rebel group entered into peace negotiations with the government.

BIFF followers started their attacks on soldiers and militiamen in Pikit and Aleosan towns, both in North Cotabato, last Dec. 31, 2013. Three of them were wounded in sporadic fighting along the Rio Grande de Mindanao.

Bulao said the BIFF had been harassing and sniping soldiers assigned to the remote villages of Pikit.

Two Army battalions have been stationed along the Rio Grande de Mindanao as part of Task Force Malmar (Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation project), which was formed following cases of harassment by BIFF forces on government workers working on the facility and private contractors.

Earlier, the Army accused the BIFF of mulcting P5 million monthly from the Malmar irrigation dam administration.

Abu Misry Mama, speaking for the BIFF, denied that his group had suffered heavy casualties. He vowed more attacks against soldiers in areas bordering Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces. Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao