Army remind commuters to avoid traveling along Maguindanao highway at night

From the Manila Times (Dec 14): Army remind commuters to avoid traveling along Maguindanao highway at night

The military in Maguindanao has urged the commuters to refrain from cruising the highway linking Cotabato City-Isulan in Sultan Kudarat at night.

This after the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) repeatedly harassed Army positions along the national highway.

“The BIFF wanted to retaliate the death of its two companions,” Capt. Joanne Petinglay, chief of the 6th Infantry Division public affairs unit, said of the strafing incident by two BIFF members in the boundary of Guindulungan and Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao Friday.

Two BIFF members were killed after they engaged government forces securing portions of the highway in a running gun battle at past 5 p.m.

Capt. Petinglay identified the slain BIFF as Jonex Unti and Titik Lupong who shoot it out with elements of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Guindulungan, Maguinanao.

Hours later, suspected BIFF retaliated by firing two rifle grenades toward an Army detachment in Barangay Ilian, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

About 30 minutes later, another rifle grenade landed beside the detachment of 21st Mechanized Company in Barangay Bagan, Guindulungan, Maguinanao.

Nobody was hurt in grenade attacks.

Capt. Petinglay said it would be safe for commuters to travel at day time but never at night time.

”Normally the BIFF retaliate every time they suffer losses in previous encounters,” Petinglay said of the bandit group.

The clash that left two BIFF rebels wounded came hours after six gunmen on board motorcycles fired on the vehicles of former Datu Salibo Mayor Akmad Ampatuan, wounding him and five of his companions.

Ampatuan has earlier decided to turn state witness on the Maguindanao massacre that involved his uncle, former Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Petinglay said 6th ID chief Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan has ordered the deployment of foot soldiers to provide road security along the Cotabato-Isulan highway.

The BIFF is composed of former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas turned ragtag bandits engaged in ‘hit and run’ attacks against soldiers, bombings, extortion and kidnapping.

http://www.manilatimes.net/breaking_news/army-remind-commuters-avoid-traveling-along-maguindanao-highway-night/