4 rebels killed, 7 wounded as soldiers drive BIFF from North Cotabato community

From InterAksyon (Oct 2): 4 rebels killed, 7 wounded as soldiers drive BIFF from North Cotabato community

The military claimed to have killed at least four rebels and wounded seven others as troops bombarded and then assaulted positions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in a North Cotabato village.

However, Captain Antonio Bulato, civil-military operations chief of the Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, said in a phone interview that the soldiers failed to recover any of the rebel casualties, who were taken along by their comrades as they boarded pump boats to escape into the Liguasan Marsh.

The soldiers from the 62nd Division Reconnaissance Company, 10th Special Forces Company and 40th Infantry Battalion suffered no casualties.

He said the clash broke out midmorning and lasted until 12:30 p.m.

“Based on our intelligence reports, there were more or less 130 BIFF elements in the area but only some 60 of them engaged our soldiers during the firefight. We used artillery fire on their positions, (it was a) marshy area, it was an open area,” Bulao said.

He said the site of the clash is near a plantation of food conglomerate Del Monte that the BIFF had earlier attacked.

Bulao said they already received reported sightings of BIFF movements in the area as early as September 27.

He said more than 30 families fled their homes when the rebels came.

“The families were complaining the BIFF had occupied their houses. Religious and community leaders intervened, appealing to the BIFF not to use civilian homes as their garrison, but they would not listen. So, nakapag-decide na magkaroon tayo ng military action kasi mahirap kung makapasok pa sila sa mainland. Doon pa lang sa marshy area in-engage natin sila (So we decided to mount a military action because it would be difficult if we let them reach the mainland. We chose to engage them in the marshy area),” Bulao said.

The BIFF broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is engaged in peace talks with government, because its members refuse to give up their goal of establishing an independent homeland.

Since last week, BIFF fighters have been involved in several clashes in North Cotabato towns and parts of Maguindanao.

During the first clash in Midsayap Monday last week, the rebels held elementary school teachers and village officials hostage, and alleged killed at least five civilians, one of whom they supposedly beheaded.

The fighting in Midsayap left three soldiers and 13 rebels dead, the military said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/71932/4-rebels-killed-7-wounded-as-soldiers-drive-biff-from-north-cotabato-community