Moro bandits who attacked military installations in Maguindanao were using prohibited drugs before firing at headquarters of the Army's 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade and a roadside Army base on Thursday, the Army today said.
Soldiers conducting clearing operations Saturday after the simultaneous attacks on Thursday and Friday encountered about 30 heavily armed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangay Sapakan, Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, according to Colonel Donald Hungitan.
Colonel Hungitan, commander of the 45th Infantry Battalion, said THE clash happened Saturday dawn while the military were clearing the area following the attacks carried out by BIFF on the former Maguindanao provincial capitol in nearby Shariff Aguak.
Hungitan said the BIFF led by a certain Commander Marocs first fired at the soldiers triggering a 30 minute firefight.
When the BIFF fled, they left one of its members, a certain Notali Sailila of Barangay Sapakan, Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao.
As the rebels hurriedly left, they forgot to bring with them about five M-16 Armalite Rifles, hand held radios, BIFF military uniforms and methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu.
Hungitan said the BIFF was clearly using shabu when they launched offensives against the military. He said it confirmed its earlier suspicion that the rebels were high on drugs when they fight it out with heavily and more powerful government forces.
Silila has been turned over by the soldiers to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for appropriate disposition.
Following the harassment carried by the BIFF, no civilian evacuation was reported, Mayor Zamsamin Ampatuan of Rajah Buayan told reporters.
Ampatuan stressed that Rajah Buayan is free from any BIFF camps or stronghold but admitted there were residents who have relatives with the BIFF rebel movement.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=642499
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