BIFF men harass Army camp

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 13): BIFF men harass Army camp

Outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attempted, but failed, to inflict injuries Wednesday afternoon on government forces securing the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao, police said Thursday.

Supt. Bernard Tayong, Midsayap town police chief, said the lawless elements set off a powerful improvised bomb near an Army detachment of the 34th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Tampat, Barangay Ulandang, Midsayap.

Citing intelligence information, Tayong said the BIFF members have been harassing government forces tasked to secure rice and corn farmers residing near the borders of Midsayap and Datu Piang in Maguindnao borders.

He said military vehicles regularly passed by the village of Ulandang en route to its base in Sitio Tampat.

The IED was set off about five minutes after a military convoy passed by the blast site.

The exploded ordnance was made of 60 mm mortar with mobile phone as trigger mechanism which police said was a signature explosives of the BIFF.

Following the incident, Tayong said, augmentation troops from the 34th IB and Midsayap PNP have been deployed in Barangay Ulandang where famers are harvesting crops.

In the past, according to residents, harassment from BIFF occur when farmers started harvesting rice and corn crops, demanding shares of the harvest and threatening villagers.

Tayong assured Midsayapenios the police and the Army will continue securing the boundary so the public can sleep well at night.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1000563