AFP extends anti-BIFF offensive yet again

From the Manila Standard Today (Mar 12): AFP extends anti-BIFF offensive yet again

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines again extended for another three days its offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters which has so far resulted in the death of 96 BIFF rebels and six government troops, the military reported on Wednesday.

AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said AFP chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. ordered the third extension of the offensive that has already lasted for nine days and caused injury to 31 government troops and “more than a hundred” rebels.

Cabunoc said the extension was requested by Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division.

“We will continue the relentless pursuit operations against the lawless armed groups until they are effectively neutralized and unable to conduct atrocities against civilian communities,” Pangilinan said.

Air and ground attacks supported by artillery fires have killed 25 more combatants as battle rages between the military and beleaguered lawless Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and their terrorist cohorts in some parts of Maguindanao.

“Twenty-five people were killed in the series of firefights in various areas in Maguindanao since late afternoon yesterday,” military Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc said Wednesday.

Cabunoc said the fighting are in the boundaries of Datu Salibo and Datu Piang and in Barangay Pusao, Sharif Saidona Mustapha and government troops are supported by four MD520 attack helicopters and artillery units.

“As of today, the troops accounted 23 enemies killed among the BIFF bandits who were engaged by the troops in the swampy areas of Datu Piang and Datu Salibu towns,” Cabunoc said.

The government fatalities included two Marines who were killed in clearing operations at the area called, SPMS (Salvu, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak) Box on Tuesday, according to the Army’s Sixth Infantry Division.

“The pursuit operations were still ongoing in the marshland where the bandits split into small groups. Sporadic clashes erupted in the area at 10 a.m. today,” Cabunoc said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/03/12/afp-extends-anti-biff-offensive-yet-again/