6 rebels opposing Philippines peace deal die in clash

From the Fulton County News (Feb 17): 6 rebels opposing Philippines peace deal die in clash

Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters killed in shootout with government troops -- seventh such clash in six days

Six members of a rebel group opposed to the Philippines peace process have been killed in a firefight with government troops near vast areas of marshland in the country’s Muslim south, the military reported Wednesday.

Two army soldiers were also hospitalized after the clash with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) — the seventh such clash in Maguindanao province in the past six days.

Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the BIFF were carried away by their companions as they retreated deep into a marsh that connects to the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta — Asia’s largest.

“We don’t have a body count of BIFF fatalities but local folks keep telling Army units in the area that several members of the group had indeed been killed in the encounter,” Petinglay said.

The vast delta is a catch basin for dozens of rivers that spring from forested hinterlands in the areas Bukidnon, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato.

A report in Philstar claimed that the hostilities erupted when bandits showed force in a secluded peasant enclave west of Datu Salibo, despite objection by local Moro villagers.

It said that four of the BIFF were killed when an 81 millimeter mortar soldiers fired to prevent them from closing in landed and exploded in their position.

The BIFF is opposed to a peace process between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government.

The BIFF — which broke away from the MILF in 2008 and rejected the peace talks — has claimed allegiance to Daesh.

http://www.newsfultoncounty.com/politics/news/1727829-6-rebels-opposing-philippines-peace-deal-die-in-clash