Maguindanao Army, PNP on alert vs BIFF retaliatory attacks

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 3): Maguindanao Army, PNP on alert vs BIFF retaliatory attacks

Police and military authorities in remote villages in Midsayap and Pikit, North Cotabato have been placed on heightened alert Tuesday as they brace for retaliations by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) following two encounters early this week that live five bandits killed.

The first encounter was triggered by the bandits' attack on an Army and militia base in Barangay Paidu Pulangi, Pikit, North Cotabato Sunday evening.

About 20 BIFF rebels crossed the 10-meter wide Paidu Pulangin river and started firing at the detachment of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) triggering an exchange of bullets from both sides, according to Capt. Antonio Bulao.

Bulao, speaking for the military's 602nd Infantry Brigade based here, said the BIFF suffered three casualties whom they carried as they fled back to Barangay Dasyawan, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. No casualty on government side.

In separate encounter, two other BIFF were killed when their attempt to attack a detachment in Purok Mirasol, Barangay Palumugin, Midsayap, also in North Cotabato, was repulsed by alert militiamen and soldiers of the 40th Infantry Battalion.

Supt. Renante Delos Santos, Midsayap municipal police chief, said the bandits looted the abandoned houses and several sari-sari stores in Purok Mirasol as the fled when reinforcement arrived.

"They hauled our valuables, goats and carabaos that we left when we hurriedly evacuated," said Solomon Sanep, a villager of Polomoguin.

Delos Santos and Bulao both appealed to farmers and village officials to help the local authorities in ensuring the safety of civilians by alerting the police about presence of unidentified persons in their villages.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=561565