DATU PAGLAS, Maguindanao (DWDD) – The combined Army and police forces had blocked the attempt of IS-inspired terrorist group in occupying the seat of the municipal government here last July 3.
In a swift combined arms operations, the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade composed of the 33rd Infantry “Makabayan” Battalion, the 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion, and the 4th Special Action Battalion attacked the occupied positions of BIFF terrorists led by Sulaiman Tudon at 5:00 am on July 3.
Spearheaded by Lt Col Harold M Cabunoc, the Commanding Officer of the 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion, the troops attacked the enemy-held cluster of concrete houses in Sitio Mopac of Barangay Poblacion, an area that is about 500 meters from the municipal hall.
Supported by armored vehicles and infantry mortars, the house-to-house close quarter battle lasted about 9 hours in an area that is located in the middle of a rice field. Three military personnel were slightly wounded in the skirmishes due to shrapnel and bullet wounds. They were identified as Cpl Millard Bacatan and Pvt Allan Cabildo of the 33rd IB, and, militiaman Musa Kalim. No civilians were reported hurt in the fighting.
At about 3:00 pm, Philippine Air Force choppers blasted the remaining BIFF positions before the clearing operations by the ground forces. The troops recovered and disrupted three (3) improvised bombs that are emplaced along the pathways towards the enemy occupied positions.
Lt Col Harold M Cabunoc said that he carried out the combat actions deliberately to prevent civilian casualties and minimize the risks on the ground troops.
“We confronted enemy snipers and improvised bombs as we seized the areas that are previously occupied by the terrorists. We also wanted to contain the fighting outside of the highly populated area some 500 meters away,” said Cabunoc.
Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the Commander of the 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division had sent augmentation forces to support the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade led by Brigadier General Bismarck Soliba.
“Let us prevent the terrorists from sowing chaos in urban centers to imitate the tactics that they used in Marawi last year. We must work closely with the civilian leaders in monitoring the enemy’s sinister plans in perpetrating violent actions to spoil the peace,” said Sobejana.
The government forces have maintained its security patrols in the peripheries of the engagement area to facilitate the return of the internally displaced persons in collaboration with the local government authorities. The Army has facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance for the 500 people who have sought refuge in the municipal gym here. 33IB Makabayan / MCAG
http://dwdd.com.ph/2018/07/04/blocked-33ib-thwarts-biff-occupation-of-an-urban-center-in-maguindanao/
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