'All-out' offensive vs BIFF in Maguindanao left 153 dead, more than 100 wounded - 6th ID

From InterAksyon (Apr 8): 'All-out' offensive vs BIFF in Maguindanao left 153 dead, more than 100 wounded - 6th ID



Government forces fire howitzers during the 'all-out' offensive against the BIFF

The more than month-long “all-out” offensive carried out by the military against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao has so far claimed 153 lives and left more than 100 other persons wounded, the military said Wednesday.

The dead include 12 soldiers, including an Army officer, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Captain Joan Petinglay said.

The BIFF, on the other hand, lost around 140 fighters, with 60 more wounded and 12 others arrested, according to data from the 6th ID.

A child evacuee was also killed and an undetermined number of other civilians wounded during the offensive, which was ordered February 25 by Armed Forces chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., exactly a month after the deadly Mamasapano incident, and was declared over on March 30.

The offensive also displaced more than 125,000 civilians in Maguindanao, most of whom remain in cramped evacuation centers.

Meanwhile, despite the declared end of the offensive, Petinglay said the 6th ID, which has been beefed up by the arrival of the 16th Infantry Battalion in Maguindanao, would continue pursuing the BIFF through Joint Task Force Central.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/108437/all-out-offensive-vs-biff-in-maguindanao-left-153-dead-more-than-100-wounded---6th-id