An outlawed Moro armed group has been manufacturing
improvised explosive devices aimed at killing or wounding combatants and non
combatants alike in Maguindanao and nearby provinces, the military here said
today.
It was clearly evident when the Army's 6th Infantry
"Kampilan" Division through its Task Force Central presented to the
media on Monday various improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recovered, disposed
and defused by Army bomb experts.
Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for Task Force Central, said
the IEDs were manufactured and dispersed by the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters.
The Geneva-banned war materials were recovered during the
more than one month operations against the BIFF in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.
It started when the outlawed group torched two heavy
equipment of a private construction company dredging portions of the town for
the flood control project.
When the Army responded, a full blown shooting war erupted
and lasted until mid-March, leaving five soldiers killed and 35 others injured,
mostly by IEDs.
Civilians near the clash area claimed more than 50 BIFF were
killed in the operation but the Army would not confirm nor deny the report.
But an Army junior officer said the number of fatalities
could be that high since the Army used air and ground assaults against the BIFF
who were armed with dangerous Barret sniper rifles.
With the number of IEDs recovered, Petinglay said, the BIFF
clearly aims to inflict more injuries, not only against government forces but
also civilians.
“This is a manifestation that the BIFF will sow more
terroristic activities in the area, with utter disregard for the safety of the
civilians,” Petinglay said.
She said soldiers of the Joint Task Force
"Kampilan" will continue to intensify its operations to clear the
area IEDs “so that people in the community can go back with their normal
lives.”
At least 3,000 individuals from several villages of Datu
Salibo remain in evacuation sites and hoping the Army would give the green
light soon for them to return home and rebuild their lives.
At 8 a.m. today, the Army bomb disposal unit will dispose by
detonation all the confiscated, recovered and unserviceable high explosives in a
disposal area in Barangay Semba, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
“We would like to inform the public, especially those living
near Barangay Sema, and Cotabato City that a series of explosions will be heard
beginning this morning,” Petinglay said.
She reiterated earlier appeals for the public to remain
vigilant to ensure ill motives of BIFF will not succeed.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=870836
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