Scout rangers clash with BIFF in Maguindanao

Army’s elite soldiers in Maguindanao clashed with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and seized an abandoned camp of the rebels on Sunday, the military said.

Soldiers from the Army’s 10th Scout Ranger Company figured with BIFF in Brgy. Macalag, Datu Unsay, in Maguindanao at about 7 a.m., said 6th Infantry Division public affairs office chief Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay.

The armed group fled toward an unknown area after 15 minutes of gunbattle. The soldiers recovered a 7.62-cal. rifle believed to be from the rebels.

Another batch of scout rangers located a kilometer away was able to find an abandoned camp with about seven huts that could accommodate an estimated 60 persons.

“The huts were already empty when the troops arrived,” Petinglay said.

There were also four jungle hammocks, two pairs of battle dress uniforms, one bandoleer for an M14 and M16 and a sweatshirt with the marking “BIFF.”

An upper Special Action Force uniform with name cloth bearing “Usman” was also found, she added.

“The SAF uniform belongs to a SAF 44 because we believe that kind of uniform is not sold outside unlike other uniforms which can be purchased anywhere,” Petinglay said.

She added that it was possible that the name cloth was changed as it can be easily replaced.

Petinglay could not say if the name Usman referred to top bomb maker Basit, who was killed on May 3.

“It’s a common name,” she said.

The military launched all-out offensives against the BIFF in February after the Mamasapano incident in January. The Oplan Exodus that targeted top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan killed 44 police commandos in a firefight with members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front and BIFF. RC