Army, PNP launch punitive action vs. BIFF in Maguindanao, NorCot

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 7): Army, PNP launch punitive action vs. BIFF in Maguindanao, NorCot

Government forces have launched a massive manhunt against a group of renegade Moro rebels who have repeatedly attempted to derail the government peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in southern Philippines, the Army here said.

Two days before the formal resumption of GPH-MILF peace talks in Kuala Lumpur Monday, members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters harassed government forces in the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

The GPH-MILF peace panels will meet July 8 in Malaysia to address the remaining annexes on wealth and power sharing of the proposed Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

The military said the manhunt was in coordinating with the police and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) of the GPH and MILF peace panels.

No casualties on the latest incident that occurred in Barangay Paidu Pulangi in Pikit, North Cotabato and Reina Regente in Datu Piang, Maguinanao at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Capt. Anthony Bulao, speaking for the 602nd Infantry Brigade, said BIFF forces attack with shoulder fired rifle grenades the detachment of 7th Infantry Battalion.

Major General Romeo Gapuz, 6th Infantry Division chief, said that since last month, the BIFF had conducted sporadic attacks on civilian communities and military detachments in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Gapuz said that on June 19, the BIFF launched an attack in barangay Bagumbayan, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat Province killing a farmer and a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member.

On that same day, the BIFF also attacked a patrol base of the 33rd Infantry Battalion located in Barangay Bagumbayan which prompted the Army to launched artillery fire against more than 200 BIFF forces, led by Uztads Zukarno Sapal.

Gapuz the 6th ID, PNP and the GPH-MILF AHJAG jointly launched a law enforcement operation against BIFF which led to the arrest of eight BIFF members, recovered the remains of the slain guerilla in barangay Kulasi, also in Bagumbayan.

Five of those arrested were turned-over to the President Quirino municipal police station and charged with illegal possession of explosives while three, who were found to be minors were turned-over to DSWD.

“Groups advocating against abuse of children should look into these, even last year that was in August, when the BIFF also conducted attacks in various communities and military detachments aiming also to disrupt the GPH-MILF peace-talks, our field commanders also reported of minors allegedly used as child warriors by the BIFF,” Gapuz said.

Elements of the 33rd IB captured a BIFF camp in nearby Gen.SK Pendatun town in Maguindanao complete with running trenches, perimeter defense and fox holes.

Days later, the BIFF launched a series of retaliatory attacks by setting off improvised bombs along a highway in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao that left two soldiers and a civilian wounded.

They also attacked two detachments of 40th Infantry Battalions in the borders of Midsayap in North Cotabato and Datu Piang in Maguindanao.

Gapuz said BIFF members also shot dead a 15-year-old high school student in Barangay Labo-Labo, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao on Monday.

The following day, two detachments of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Barangay Iginagampong in Datu SAudi Ampatuan were attacked by BIFF forces, Gapuz said in a statement. No casualty was reported.

He added that the BIFF, aside from publicly proclaiming it will launched offensives against military installations in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, also circulated text messages that portions of the Davao-Cotabato highway and portions of the Cotabato-Gen. Santos highway had been closed and they are in control of it.

Gapuz said the BIFF also launched misinformation drive that the GPH-MILF talks had collapsed.

Abu Misry, BIFF spokesperson, said the BIFF will continue to harass and launch guerilla attacks against military forces in Maguindanao.

Speaking over DXMS Radyo Bida, Misry said: "We continue our offensives against the Army and other government forces."

To date, Gapuz said armed clashes are still on going between pursuing government forces and BIFF elements in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

“We are on top of the situation. We are ready and committed along with our counterparts from the MILF to defend our communities from BIFF abuses and the massive displacements and lost livelihoods they cause which are clear violations of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and to preserve and guard the primacy of the peace process in Mindanao,” Gapuz said.

"We are doing our best to secure our communities and prevent more displacements especially so that our brothers and sisters in Islam are going to start the observance of the Holy month of Ramadan this coming week," he added.

The fasting month of Ramadhan will officially start on Tuesday, July 9.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=541738