The military here said three more Moro bandits were killed while six soldiers were wounded in Datu Piang, Maguindanao as skirmishes between members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and government forces entered the fourth day Thursday.
Three more government forces were wounded, raising the number of injured government troops to 13, according to Colonel Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson.
“Based on the information provided by the local government officials that 40 BIFF bandits were killed since last Monday," Hermoso said.
"Last Wednesday, there were 37 casualties on the side of the BIFF and by 6:30 a.m on 30th of January, three more bandits were killed," Hermoso added.
Local officials in Datu Piang, Shariff Saidona, Mamasapano and Rajah Buayan towns, all in the second district of Maguindanao, said 14 BIFF bandits have also been wounded in the ensuing firefights.
Twelve of the wounded bandits were evacuated by their companions to a marshy area at the border of the neighboring Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat provinces, Hermoso said.
Relief officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) said more than 11,000 villagers have been displaced in four Maguindanao towns.
Workers for the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team (HEART) of ARMM have been distributing relief goods and food stuff to evacuation centers in Datu Piang, Shariff Saydona, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Mamasapano and Raja Buayan, all in Maguindanao.
“The fighting has slowed down Thursday as the BIFF had been contained in one marshy area of Barangay Ganta, Datu Piang,” Hermoso said.
Hermoso earlier announced Wednesday that the punitive action against BIFF was scheduled to end by Friday morning. He said only two civilians, a pregnant mother and a girl, were wounded in a bomb attack by the BIFF at a public terminal in Datu Piang.
Chief government negotiator Professor Miriam Ferrer-Coronel, issued a statement Thursday, condemning atrocities by the BIFF while peace negotiations were ongoing in
She said for the past nine months, the BIFFs have harassed soldiers and terrorized local communities. The rebels planted roadside bombs, sniped at soldiers, took school teachers as hostages, and in one instance, even beheaded a civilian captive. A few days ago, in the midst of the fighting, they commandeered a private vehicle and forcibly used it as a roadblock.
"The ongoing military operations are geared at degrading the BIFF’s capability to continue to cause harm to the government forces, civilians and the peace process," Ferrer said in a statement.
Ferrer said that prior to the conduct of the operations, the ceasefire mechanisms of the GPH and the MILF have ensured the safety of civilians in surrounding areas. Relief provisions have been on standby to meet the basic needs of those who have been temporarily displaced.
She said the government and the MILF have taken the necessary steps to ensure that the operations will not spill over to involve MILF combatants or cause unnecessary or prolonged hardship to civilians. The MILF is assisting in the operations by helping the government contain the movements of the BIFF.
"We call on the members and the leaders of the BIFF to put down their arms and be part of the process. We ask them to listen to the plea of their own brothers and sisters to give peace a chance," Ferrer said, adding that the government is ready to receive those who would like to silence their guns and "participate in the different programs we will be undertaking as part of the implementation of the peace agreements."
"We know that BIFF members can also contact supporters or local ground commanders of the MILF who could facilitate their return to normal lives. These and other avenues are open for those among the BIFF who are ready to join us in our peace efforts," the government chief negotiator said.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=611205
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