9 more BIFF rebels die in Maguindanao clash

From the Manila Standard Today (Mar 3): 9 more BIFF rebels die in Maguindanao clash

THE Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters suffered nine more dead fighters on Monday even as the military seized a factory for making improvised explosive devices, officials said.

The number of displaced residents also mounted as the fighting between government troops and BIFF fighters in the remote communities in Maguindanao entered its seventh day.

The military said the body of nine BIFF rebels were recovered by Army troopers in Datu Unsay, the site of bloody fighting between the military and BIFF rebels last Friday.

The military offensive against the BIFF also resulted in the seizure of a factory for making improvised bombs following the capture of a BIFF camp owned by Mohammad Ali Tambako in Dasikil village.

Colonel Melquiades Feliciano, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, spearheaded the assault that led to the discovery of the bomb factory.

“Our troops successfully seized a bomb-making facility after assaulting the enemy positions yesterday,” Feliciano said.

“The enemy was able to escape but the equipment and materials that are used to fabricate home-made bombs were left behind.” 

Feliciano made his statement even as Senen Bacani, a member of the government negotiating panel for the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said President Benigno Aquino III will issue an executive order this month creating a task force that will disarm private armed groups in the areas that will form part of the proposed Bangsamoro political entity as well as other areas in Mindanao.

Bacani said that would be in keeping with the commitments made under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

“The MILF will undergo a decommissioning process, and the government will disarm all other private armed groups in the area who are potential threats to the Bangsamoro,” Bacani said.

In the House, Rep. Terry Sidon on Monday slammed the military’s “all-out offensive” against the BIFF, which he said had led to the displacement of over 20,000 people in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

“The Aquino administration is calling it an ‘all-out offensive’ but that’s a big understatement. What’s happening in Mindanao right now is an all-out war, and no amount of euphemism can hide that,” Ridon said.

 “Since the offensive began last week, there have already been multiple reports of government troops indiscriminately firing upon fleeing civilians and bombing communities in both Maguindanao and North Cotabato.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Rodolfo Albano III welcomed the plan of the House leadership to resume the hearings on the Mamasapano bloodbath that resulted in the killing of 44 police commandos on Jan. 25.

He proposed the conduct of marathon hearings.

Feliciano said the terrorist Abdul Basit Usman, who escaped from his hideout somewhere in Mamasapano and who was now being hunted down by government troops, was being coddled by bandits from two BIFF groups.

He said the new BIFF leader Mahammad Ali Tambako, who had initiated violent activities against the civilians in Maguindanao and North Cotabato, was one of Usman’s top protectors.

He said the other BIFF leader protecting Usman was Kagi Karialan who had at least 100 fighters under his command.

Feliciano said Karialan was responsible for the attack on the MILF and the civilian communities at the Boliok Complex and in Bolol, both in Pikit in North Cotabato, that displaced 25,000 people.

He said five foreign nationals believed to be members of an international terrorist organization were seen moving with Usman to evade the troops pursuing them.

As more civilians fled their homes due to the fighting, Major General Edmundo Pangilinan met with local government officials to explain the ongoing all-out offensive against the BIFF.

He said the fighting was aimed at getting Usman and his group.

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