Thursday, February 11, 2016

BIFF shelled as bandits harass Army detachment in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 11): BIFF shelled as bandits harass Army detachment in Maguindanao

Military units shelled Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fighters after they conducted harassment attacks at an Army detachment in Rajah Buayan town, Maguindanao, Wednesday night.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said an estimated 30 BIFF members fired on the detachment at 9:30 p.m.

"Artillery fire was requested and provided at the vicinity of the detachment and that resulted in the enemy's withdrawal. The fortunate thing there is no one was hurt (in the government side)," he added.

As this developed, Padilla said the AFP was not suspending security operations in Maguindanao despite a reported encounter with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at Barangay Dawang, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Wednesday morning.

And while not directly admitting to the incident, the AFP spokesperson stressed the clash took place in nearby Datu Salibo town where a government dredging was ongoing.

In the fighting, a staff sergeant was seriously wounded and died Thursday morning.

Padilla declined to identify the fallen trooper pending notification of his next-of-kin.

He said the military has yet to determine if the other side suffered casualties in Wednesday's fighting.

Padilla said members of the government and MILF's respective committee on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities (CCCH) and ad hoc joint action group (AHJAG) were still trying to ascertain which group engaged the clash with government troops.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=856142

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