Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry
Division, said the encounter between 8th Marine Battalion Landing Team under
Task Force Central and BIFF started at about 4 p.m. Tuesday and ended past
midnight.
”Our troops clashed with about 70 BIFF armed men while the
military was conducting clearing operations in Barangay Pusao,” Petinglay said.
About 20 BIFF members were killed and 30 others were
wounded, Petinglay said, quoting a report from MBLT-8.
Without identifying the slain soldiers, Petinglay said their
families have been fully informed.
Earlier reports said the elusive Filipino bomber Basit Usman
was with the group but still managed to escape.
Task Force Central Commander Major General Edmundo R.
Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division chief, has extended his deepest sympathy to
the families of the fallen soldiers who risked their lives during the heavy
fighting with the bandits.
”Remains of the fallen soldiers are now being taken care of
at the 6ID morgue,” Petinglay said.
Pangilinan assures the public that the firefight will not
spill over to other areas of engagement and said that JTF Central will protect
the civilians at all cost.
Earlier today, March 11, fighting erupted at the same area
between the operating Marines troops and the BIFF.
To date, more than 100 BIFF have been killed and 60 other
were wounded. Petinglay said the slain BIFF were buried by their retreating
companions while others brought the wounded.
On the government side, six soldiers, including an Army
captain and two lieutenants were slain and 27 others were wounded.
Petinglay said no civilian was injured since the fighting
was in the middle of the marshland already deserted by non-combatants.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=743603
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