The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) discovered more bomb-making materials belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao on Saturday.
A platoon of
soldiers scouring Sitio Quarry found the bomb components, including cellular
circuit boards, fuses, blasting caps and cellphone batteries, inside an
abandoned house in Datu Unsay.
The military said
members of the BIFF members abandoned the materials as they continue to elude
arrest.
AFP Chief of
Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr, said the BIFF has turned some parts of
Maguindanao as terrorist havens and bomb factories.
Just last
February, members of the Philippine Marines were able to seize an enemy camp
with a bomb-making facility in Barangay Dasikil in Mamasapano.
Catapang said the
military remains focused in their offensive against the BIFF, especially in the
group's former stronghold in the Maguindanao towns of Salvu, Pagatin,
Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak, which have been dubbed the "SMPS box."
"We will
continue to deploy troops in these former BIFF controlled areas inside the
'SPMS Box.' We will not allow Basit Usman and his cohorts to make this area a
safe haven and launching pad for their terrorist actions against innocent
people," said Catapang.
The AFP chief
said they are also pursuing pursuing bands of BIFF members who have splintered
into small groups to evade the security forces.
As of posting,
the AFP has claimed to have killed 139 and arrested 12 BIFF members as they
continue their all-out offensive following the Mamasapano bloodbath.
The BIFF has
about 300 active members, who were once members of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF).
While the
military continues to run after BIFF forces, Catapang said the AFP will also
facilitate the implementation of development projects for those displaced by
the armed conflict in Mindanao .
He said that P67
million has been allocated for infrastructure projects in Maguindanao.
"The
President has instructed me to facilitate the launching of peace and
development projects in the area. An initial amount of P67 million has been
allocated by the President for infrastructure projects that we dubbed as 'Bridge
for Peace', 'Roads for Peace', 'Hospital for Peace' and 'School for
Peace,'" Catapang said.
Catapang will
attend the inauguration ceremony for the bridge project in Mamasapano town next
week.
"We want to
help the government turn this impoverished town into a productive place where
people use plows instead of guns in their quest for economic prosperity and
lasting peace," he said.
Catapang has also
challenged the MILF to prevent the entry of BIFF in the "Area of Temporary
Stay," where armed members of the MILF were relocated prior to the conduct
of law enforcement operations in February.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/22/15/afp-parts-maguindanao-turned-bomb-factories
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