BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama
SAUDI AMPATUAN, Maguindanao -- Government troops engaged gunmen of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in an overnight battle before driving them away early Saturday in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao, the Army said.
Although the fighting caused panic among civilians living near detachments of the 1st Mechanized Brigade along the Datu Saudi-Ampatuan-Datu Salibo-Datu Piang highway, no evacuations were reported.
Brigade commander Colonel Felicisimo Budiongan said no soldier was hurt in the fighting that lasted from 7 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday.
BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama acknowledged mounting the attacks, saying these were in retaliation for the death two weeks ago of their sub-commander, Tamharin Esmael, which he blamed on the military. He also threatened more attacks.
Budiongan said after the initial hostilities, the BIFF gunmen fled when troops from three camps returned fire. However, they returned before midnight and fired rocket-propelled grenades towards the outposts.
The BIFF finally withdrew when reinforcements backed by armored personnel carriers arrived.
A portion of the Cotabato City-Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat highway had to be shut down at sunrise to defuse an improvised explosive device planted by the BIFF. The road was reopened after more than an hour.
http://interaksyon.com/article/135744/army-drives-off-biff-in-overnight-fighting-in-maguindanao-town
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