Troops clash with BIFF gunmen in Maguindanao province

From the Mindanao Examiner blog site (Feb 22): Troops clash with BIFF gunmen in Maguindanao province



Lt. Col. Donald Hongitan, commander of the 45th Infantry Battalion, and two other army officers inspect BIFF weapons recovered by troops following a clash with rebels in Maguindanao province in southern Philippines. (Mindanao Examiner Photo – Mark Navales)

Government troops clashed with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao where the rebel group is operating, officials said Saturday.

Officials said the clash occurred in the village called Shariff Saydona after patrolling troops ran into a band of rebels.

There were no reports of casualties in the fighting, but Lt. Col. Donald Hongitan, commander of the 45th Infantry Battalion, said troops recovered three automatic rifles left behind by fleeing rebels.

Hongitan said the fighting lasted about 30 minutes and only stopped after the BIFF broke into smaller groups and fled.

The BIFF, armed wing of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement under Ustadz Ameril Umra Kato, split with the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is negotiating peace with Manila.

http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2014/02/troops-clash-with-biff-gunmen-in.html