Wednesday, August 6, 2014

BIFF fighters harass Army detachments in Maguindanao

From InterAksyon (Aug 6): BIFF fighters harass Army detachments in Maguindanao

After weeks of relative silence after the deaths of their alleged second in command and 16 other members last month, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters struck again, harassing Army detachments in Datu Piang town, Maguindanao since Monday night.

BIFF spokesman Abu Misri Mama said their fighters attacked the detachment in Barangay Ganta Monday night and another outpost around 8 p.m. Tuesday.

He said they would continue their attacks until the military abandoned its camps.

6th Infantry Division spokesman Colonel Dickson Hermoso confirmed the two incidents and said the holdout rebels, who broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, attacked another detachment early Wednesday morning.

Hermoso said no troops were harmed in the first two incidents and they are verifying if the latest harassment had caused any casualties.

He said the BIFF could be looking to recover their former camps, which are now occupied by troops of the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion and the Marines’ 61st Reconnaissance Company.

Last month, the military said the BIFF’s second highest-ranking leader, known only as  “City Hunter,” was killed with four security aides -- Dris Salik, Mashud Ali, Nur Hassan, and Mantawil Kaliga -- and several other fighters after they attacked military detachments in Maguindanao.

The BIFF was organized by former MILF commander Ameril Umra Kato after he left the main rebel organization over disagreements with the direction peace talks with government were taking.

The BIFF has refused to give up its quest for an independent Islamic state in the southern Philippines.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/92727/biff-fighters-harass-army-detachments-in-maguindanao

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