BIFF attacks BARMM area, 3 soldiers killed

From the Manila Times (Mar 3, 2019): BIFF attacks BARMM area, 3 soldiers killed

Three soldiers were killed as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked anew, the first incident under the Bangsa­moro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which preceded a grenade blast here several hours later.

Even with the newly installed BARMM, peace has remained elusive here.

The BIFF is not covered by the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front chaired by Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, now the BARMM chief minister.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the 6th Infantry Division (6ID), said the first victim was P/Staff Sgt. Lardera Verande, of the 6ID intelligence unit, who was killed by motorcycle-riding men in a broad daylight attack along Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato City on Thursday.

Meanwhile, two more soldiers under the 6ID were killed on the same day in an ambush in Barangay Sambulawan, Datu Salibo town in the second district of Maguindanao.

They were identified as Privates Junard Estribor and Nelier John Pinto who were both off-duty and belonged to the 57th Infantry Battalion of the 6ID.

Encinas said the victims were on board a red car en route to Cotabato City when BIFF gunmen, positioned along the highway, opened fire with assault rifles, killing them on the spot.

Their companion, Private Muqtadir Sampulna, was wounded and recuperating in a hospital.

Abu Misry Mama, BIFF spokesman, told reporters that the killings were carried out to avenge the death of a ranking companion in a military operation in Maguindanao three days before.

“We will retaliate each time one of us gets killed in a government offensive,” Misry said.

The separate attacks that killed three soldiers preceded the powerful explosion in a residential area not too far from the Cotabato Regional Medical Center in Cotabato City.

Investigators said the grenade that a lone bomber lobbed on the roof of a house owned by retired police officer Rudy Payag, fell on one side of the building and exploded as it hit the ground.

No one was hurt in the explosion, but the incident triggered panic among members of Payag’s family and their neighbors.

Personnel of the Cotabato City police and intelligence agents from the 6ID are still validating circulating text messages alleging that the BIFF was also behind the grenade attack.

The blast site was less than 2 kilometers southwest of the BARMM capitol, the operations center of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority.

https://www.manilatimes.net/biff-attacks-barmm-area-3-soldiers-killed/519806/