The military here said eight Moro bandits were killed and
seven soldiers were hurt in a fire fight involving government forces and
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao.
The three-day fire fight which began on Wednesday dawn until
Friday morning, also left a 15-year-old girl dead when she was hit by stray
bullets.
The Army is now preparing for possible retaliatory attacks
from the BIFF to avenge the death of its members, according to Army Capt. Joann
Petinglay.
Petinglay, speaking for the Army division headquarters based
in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, said Army intelligence report showed
the BIFF was planning to launch another offensive against the Army.
Local officials in the towns of Datu Unsay and Shariff
Aguak, both in Maguindanao, claimed that eight bandits were killed since
Wednesday. They were identified as Monib, a certain “Boy ISIS,” Odin, Bansil,
Bohari, Nasif, Badrudin and an adolescent named Salik.
The BIFF which sparked the resumption of hostilities with an
attack on Army trainees in Shariff Aguak had at least 10 injured followers.
Local officials identified them as Tuwah, Runi, Omar,
Tanser, Kasim, Kamar, Kahirudin, Ibrahim, Moctar, and Odih.
The rebel initiated attacks also triggered military air and
ground assaults on Wednesday morning.
This prompted the military to launch air strikes and ground
offensive that forced the BIFF to flee deep into the Maguindanao marshland.
The fighting also hurt Army Privates 1st Class Dan
Antiporta, Glen Villanueva, Jason Ojanola, Manolito Tero and Ronnie Angel and
Corporals Mike Encarnacion and Kim Tablasan.
Evacuees told reporters the BIFF started the trouble before
dawn Wednesday with an attack on elements of the Army’s 19th Infantry
Battalion.
Petinglay said the 19th IB troopers were sent to conflict
affected communities to study the culture and religious practices of villagers.
She explained why the trainees were sent to armed lawless
elements-areas in Datu Unsay.
“It was never a tactical activity. It was purely an
educational engagement parallel with the religious and cultural sensitivity
policy of 6th ID,” Petinglay said, adding that the trainees' tour was
coordinated with the local govenrment officials and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) which the government has a ceasefire accord.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=904658
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