5 BIFF men killed, 5 gov’t soldiers hurt in clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 20): 5 BIFF men killed, 5 gov’t soldiers hurt in clash

Five members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed while five government troops injured during a clash Tuesday in a remote village in Carmen, North Cotabato.

Moreover, some 200 families evacuated to safer grounds following the clash that erupted shortly before dawn at Sitios Martesan and Misalan, both in Barangay Tonganon, Carmen.

The Army’s 6th Infantry Division also launched air strikes against the ISIS-linked BIFF faction of Abu Toraife, the target of military operations in the area.

In a statement, Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th ID chief, said the air strikes were launched after local residents and alert villagers, including members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) confirmed the presence of foreign terrorists with the BIFF in Barangay Tonganon, a thickly forested area in the borders of Carmen and Aleosan towns.

The air strikes followed a clash between BIFF and soldiers of the 34th Infantry Battalion that hurt three infantrymen and a militiaman.

Injured and being treated at a military hospital in Maguindanao were Sgt. Wenceslao Nacional, Cpl. Gerry Culaban, Pvts. 1st Class Ignacio Cinco and Joel Looc and the militiaman identified only as Lacuesta.

Five BIFF men were killed while three other followers of Abu Toraife were injured and carried away by their comrades, according to villagers.

Brig. Gen. Nolly Samarita, commander of Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade, said the air strikes were launched to prevent the terrorist group from launching retaliatory attacks on civilian communities in North Cotabato.

In a separate statement, Major Gen. Carlito Galvez, said the military is doing everything to prevent the IS-linked group from getting closer to civilian populated areas.

“The BIFF are known for harming civilians to avenge the losses they incurred in military operations,” Galvez said.

Samarita said the BIFF were preparing to launch attacks even on Moro communities in the borders of Aleosan and Carmen towns when the MILF provided intelligence information to government forces, thus the preemptive strikes.

Displaced families are now housed in village centers and public schools in Barangay Lawili, Carmen and local government units emergency teams have responded to attend to their needs.

Following Tuesday’s clash, more police and military checkpoints were setup along portions of the Cotabato-Davao highway.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1019385