Pursuit operations on vs BIFF still holding 3 hostages in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 23): Pursuit operations on vs BIFF still holding 3 hostages in North Cotabato

Pursuit and rescue operations are underway for three hostages still held by Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Freedom Fighters (BIFF) following a day-long skirmish with government troopers in remote Barangay Malingao, Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, Army’s Sixth Infantry Division (6ID) spokesman, said fighting subsided before dusk Monday but retreating rebels are still withholding three hostages whose identifies are yet to be determined.

Fierce exchanges of gunfire were heard in Malingao between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Intermittent crackles of gunfire could still be heard in the area late in the afternoon.

“They are still in side Malingao but we have cordoned the area,” Capt. Antonio Bulao, Army’s 602nd Brigade spokesperson, said.

Latest Hermoso report released by the 6ID placed casualties at one government soldier and four BIFF rebels.

The same report said the BIFF earlier held 15 hostages but released 12 as they withdrew to the interiors of Malingao village near the boundaries of Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=568803