Army bracing for reprisals from BIFF as hot pursuit of Usman continues

From InterAksyon (Jul 1): Army bracing for reprisals from BIFF as hot pursuit of Usman continues

The 6th Infantry Division of the Army is bracing for possible retaliatory attacks from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) following the military’s successful operations that resulted in the recovery of several improvised explosive devices planned for use by the group.

The operation also allowed authorities to confirm that one of the most wanted bomb experts of the regional terrorist group Jema’ah Islamiyah, is in the vicinity of Central Mindanao, which has since been placed under full alert. Checkpoints have been set up on strategic sites.

The military is on the lookout for Abdul Basit Usman, who is believed to have undergone training in bomb making.

Last June 10, Army troops  encountered BIFF members in Reyna Regente town, but the bandits withdrew to the Sharif Saidona Mustafa area in Maguindanao, where another skirmish took place.

The soldiers belatedly realized that they had penetrated the territory of Usman.

They believed that Usman had been wounded by military fire, and was in hiding. Four other suspected ASG men were killed.

According to the 45th Infantry Battalion’s commander Donald Hongitan, the soldiers recovered various IEDs that were believed to have been stockpiled there for use in attacks across Central Mindanao. Hongitan said the site the soldiers stumbled on was apparently some sort of a “factory” for IEDs.

They also recovered ammunition for 155mm, 105 howitzers and 81-mm mortar. Several high-powered firearms, including sniper rifles, were also recovered.

Authorities confirmed Basit Usman’s connection with the BIFF. An AFP intelligence report showed Usman had received training, especially in bomb handling, from Malaysian and Indonesian terrorists of the Jema’ah Islamiyah.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, public information officer of the 6th Infantry Division, said Usman makes the IEDs that are used by the BIFF for its terrorist attacks.

As a result of the skirmishes, the AFP confirmed that earlier reports saying Usman was dead were erroneous.

Meanwhile, the AFP is stepping up security precautions amid the “raw” information about fresh terror threats especially in the Davao area.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/90301/army-bracing-for-reprisals-from-biff-as-hot-pursuit-of-usman-continues