BIFF commander Ustadz Muhaiden Animbang. INTERAKSYON FILE PHOTO BY DENNIS ARCON
As the military braced for threats of more attacks by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, intelligence operations focused on information that the BIFF, remnants of which still roam despite the seizure of three camps in a week-long operation last week, is shifting to urban terrorism.
Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said on Monday they redeployed troops for precautionary operations, a day after the lapse of a 72-hour extension of the offensive that began Jan. 27.
“We’re heightening our proactive preemptive security measures especially on providing security to vital installations such as roads, public markets, churches, and all areas where people converge,” Hermoso said.
He added that local government units were told to include in their security system the periodic giving of information to their constituents about BIFF activities and possible allied groups. This will ensure “immediate action just like what some residents did when they tipped off [authorities] the three bombs planted by these criminals,” Hermoso explained.
He was referring to IEDs discovered in separate towns in Maguindanao on Sunday, a day after a series of roadside explosions in Ampatuan town wounded 12 people, including two TV5 news crew members whose vehicle had stopped to check on an earlier blast.
On Sunday, the military terminated its major offensive against the MIFF in Maguindanao after the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (AFP-MILF) did not extend the 72-hour extension for the military to defeat the BIFF.
The government’s war against the BIFF killed 52 BIFF fighters, including 13 alleged “child soldiers” and a government soldier; and displaced more than 9,000 families. More than 130 were wounded on both sides and at least 8 civilians were injured in crossfire.
The military claimed having substantially reduced the armed capability of the BIFF with the capture of three major camps including a “bomb factory,” but information says the BIFF has resorted to urban bombings.
“We’d stopped the joint law enforcement operation of the 6th ID and the police in Maguindanao but we continue to enforce normal law enforcement operation to preempt possible retaliation from the BIFF.
We are expecting this just like what happened to the convoy of soldiers and mediamen that was hit by a roadside bombing. Yesterday, there was an attempt by BIFF elements in Guindulungan town to bomb a road but because of information relayed by residents our soldiers and policemen quickly responded and diffused at least three bombs planted along the road,” Hermoso said.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/80012/military-lgus-bracing-for-fresh-attacks-as-biff-said-to-shift-to-urban-terrorism
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