The military here launched today artillery attacks against
members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) believed to be
responsible in the harrassment of two Army detachments along the borders of
Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat that left one soldier dead and three others
wounded, the Army said.
Lt. Col. Markton Abu, commanding officer of 33rd Infantry
Battalion, said his men are now conducting clearing operations in the marshy
portion of Gen. SK Pendatun town in Maguindanao where the BIFF maintained a
camp. Abu said the offensive was an off shoot of the harassment
Saturday morning by BIFF forces in two Army detachments in Barangay Katiko,
President Quirino town in Sultan Kudarat.
"We have reliable information the BIFF are threatening
the civilians because its harvest time," Abu told reporters.
"We have persistent information that they are just
roaming around the woodland and marshy area and anytime will attack the
civilian farmers as harvest time is coming, they used to steal the harvest from
unarmed farmers and that we are securing the civilians,” he said.
About 50 bandits simultaneously attacked Kulasi detachment
in Barangay Kulasi in General Salipada K. Pendatun town in Maguindanao and
Sumilalao detachment in Barangay Katiku, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat
province where one soldier was killed and three others were wounded.
As the rebels retreated, they attack another Army
detachments in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that also left one soldier wounded.
Abu Misry Mama, speaking for the BIFF, admitted his men
attacked the two Army detachments on Saturday.
On Monday morning, Mama said dozens of howitzers hit the
marshland but none of his companions were killed in the offensive.
"It rained mortars here, we are on the defensive
position," he said in a phone interview.
Maj. General Edmundo Pangilinan, commanding general of 6th
Infantry Division, has called on the civilians to provide the Army with
information about the presence of BIFF forces in their communities to preempt
lawless' elements attempt to extort from farmers.
Pangilinan did not say how many BIFF bandits were killed or
wounded in the Army offensive.
"These people are spoilers of peace and they continue
to destroy the Army's peace initiatives and reach out programs to poor people
of Maguindanao," Pangilinan lamented.
On Sunday, Pangilinan led his men in according heroic honors
to two slain soldiers before they were sent to their respective families.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=721769
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.