CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Government troops recovered four firearms and an improvised bomb following a brief firefight against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired gunmen at dawn Tuesday in this province.
Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said the firefight between soldiers of the 40th Infantry Battalion and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) gunmen ensued around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday in Barangay Inaladan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.
Sobejana said the troops were conducting security patrol “as part of our effort to ensure that the plebiscite is conducted without any interruption,” when they clashed with the group of BIFF gunmen.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has scheduled the conduct of a plebiscite on January 21 and February 6 for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and the inclusion of new territories into the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Sobejana said that concerned residents have also reported to them that gunmen, bringing with them improvised bombs, were seen in Barangay Inaladan prior to the security patrol operation.
He said the troops recovered three M-14 rifles, an Armalite rifle, and an improvised bomb at the clash site.
Sobejana could not say if the rebels suffered casualties but based on information from residents, BIFF gunmen were seen carrying four wounded combatants as they fled.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1058963
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