Google map of Mamasapano town, Maguindanao.
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Military pursuit operations are underway against a band of Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) rebels, which figured in a clash with government troops Saturday in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, that left a government soldier and two rebels killed.
Two soldiers of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion were also injured in the morning skirmishes near Tukanalipao River, site of the infamous 2015 Mamasapano encounter.
Maj. Arvin John Encinas, speaking for the Western Mindanao Command, said the firefight erupted at 9 a.m. while soldiers of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB) were conducting foot patrols near Tukanalipao River in the area.
The BIFF men, believed to be under Abu Toraife, were positioned 300 meters away from the river and traded shots with government forces.
Army ground troopers said Toraife’s group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), carried with them the black ISIS flag as they fled deep into the marshland to evade military artillery fire.
Slain on the government side was Sgt. Randy Alivar who died while undergoing medication at the Army hospital. Injured were Privates First Class Ruel Sumilhig and Allan James Cabildo, all of the 33IB.
“Two BIFF were killed and three others were injured but they were carried by their fleeing comrades,” Encinas said, quoting reports from village officials.
The firefight on Saturday occurred near Tukanalipao River, site of the 2015 massacre of 44 police Special Action Force (SAF) members, according to Ismael Hashim, chairperson of Barangay Tukanalipao.
The January 2015 operation against bomb expert Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir alias “Marwan” also resulted in the deaths of 17 rebels and five civilians.
Hashim said more than 450 families have fled to adjacent villages for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1085618
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