At least three children were among the 53 people killed in the military operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a military official on the ground claimed Friday.
In a phone interview with GMA News Online, regional military spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said local authorities were able to confirm that the three, who are believed to be members of the BIFF, were minors aged between 15 to 17 years old.
He said the three were wearing BIFF uniforms when their bodies were recovered.
GMA News Online was still trying to contact local officials in Maguindanao for confirmation as of posting time.
Hermoso said 53 people — 52 rebels and one soldier — were killed in the operations that reached its fifth day on Friday. Meanwhile, 42 BIFF members and 13 soldiers were wounded.
The BIFF is a small breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that opposes the peace talks.
BIFF camps
In a separate text message to GMA News Online, Armed Forces public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said government soldiers have captured at least five “significant” BIFF camps.
He said these were:
- headquarters in Barangay Dasawao, Shariff Saydona Mustapha;
- training facility in Barangay Ganta, Shariff Saydona Mustapha;
- improvised explosive device factory in Barangay Ganta, Shariff Saydona Mustapha;
- advance post in Barangay Bakat, Shariff Saydona Mustapha; and
- advance post in Barangay Damablas in Datu Piang.
Zagala said the capture of the camps has weakened the rebels' capabilities to attack. “We denied them access to their IEDs [improvise explosive devices]," he said.
For his part, Army 6th Infantry Division's public affairs officer Maj. Dante Gania said they have seized materials used to make IEDs at the factory.
“They are materials for making IED, yung nakuha natin, walang naka-built-in,” he added, noting that the rebels may still have IEDs with them.
However, Dante said the capture of the IED factory has helped decrease the group's threat against the military. “Magandang development kasi... mababawasan yung threat nila through IED.”
Zagala said military operations will end on Saturday, based on the deadline approved by the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). He added that this has been extended after the first deadline ended on Wednesday.
However, he noted they may ask for another extention if the BIFF continue to resist the serving of the arrest warrants against some of their members.
Evacuated residents
Meanwhile, Gania said they are hoping that an extension would not be needed anymore, and the rebels would not resist the warrant of arrest.
“Kami nga po we wanted it to end as early as possible para hindi na po mahirapan yung mga kababayan natin na nasa safer places, mga evacuation center, para po ma-restore yung normalcy, maituloy nila yung normal life nila,” he said.
He noted that more or less 7,000 displaced residents are still at evacuation centers.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/346387/news/regions/3-child-warriors-among-biff-fatalities-in-maguindanao-military
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