From ABS-CBN (Apr 8, 2021): Military declares Maguindanao town clear after clash with Islamist rebels
State troops can be seen on the streets of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao while residents flee amid firefights after Islamist rebels stormed the town Saturday morning. Photos courtesy of Omolhier Saguia
(UPDATE)— Government troops on Saturday drove away about 100 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who stormed the town of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.
The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, confirmed that the military launched an operation in the area on Friday after receiving reports about the presence of BIFF members.
“Kagabi ay nag-launch kami ng operasyon sa Datu Paglas kasunod ng report ng presensiya ng BIFF sa bayan. Karugtong ito ng ating ginagawang operasyon sa SPMS box, halos isang linggo nang nagkakaroon ng encounter ang ating military at local terrorists,” said Uy. (Last night, we launched an operation in Datu Paglas following reports on the presence of BIFF in the town. This is part of our operation in SPMS (Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona) box where encounters between the military and local terrorists have been happening for almost a week.)
Uy also confirmed that BIFF members occupied the public market in Datu Paglas on Saturday morning.
“Kasama 'yan sa ating ginagampanang tungkulin kung saan ay ayon sa utos ng ating Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte na matapos itong local terrorist problem sa kanyang termino,” Uy said. (That is part of our mandate, based on President Duterte’s order to end local terrorist problem during his term.)
Vice Mayor Mohammad Paglas earlier said that the group has been resting in the area when the military monitored them.
"Pumasok ang grupo nila dito sa palengke pati sa Gawad Kalinga na residential house ng sibilyan. Wala naman silang hinostage na mga tao, nakipagbakbakan na lang sila sa military," said Paglas. (The group entered the wet market and even the Gawad Kalinga housing for civilians. They did not take anyone hostage but engaged in a firefight with the military.)
(UPDATE)— Government troops on Saturday drove away about 100 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who stormed the town of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.
The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, confirmed that the military launched an operation in the area on Friday after receiving reports about the presence of BIFF members.
“Kagabi ay nag-launch kami ng operasyon sa Datu Paglas kasunod ng report ng presensiya ng BIFF sa bayan. Karugtong ito ng ating ginagawang operasyon sa SPMS box, halos isang linggo nang nagkakaroon ng encounter ang ating military at local terrorists,” said Uy. (Last night, we launched an operation in Datu Paglas following reports on the presence of BIFF in the town. This is part of our operation in SPMS (Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona) box where encounters between the military and local terrorists have been happening for almost a week.)
Uy also confirmed that BIFF members occupied the public market in Datu Paglas on Saturday morning.
“Kasama 'yan sa ating ginagampanang tungkulin kung saan ay ayon sa utos ng ating Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte na matapos itong local terrorist problem sa kanyang termino,” Uy said. (That is part of our mandate, based on President Duterte’s order to end local terrorist problem during his term.)
Vice Mayor Mohammad Paglas earlier said that the group has been resting in the area when the military monitored them.
"Pumasok ang grupo nila dito sa palengke pati sa Gawad Kalinga na residential house ng sibilyan. Wala naman silang hinostage na mga tao, nakipagbakbakan na lang sila sa military," said Paglas. (The group entered the wet market and even the Gawad Kalinga housing for civilians. They did not take anyone hostage but engaged in a firefight with the military.)
Videos posted on Facebook show military armored personnel carriers rolling into town and residents fleeing amid the sound of gunshots. Videos courtesy of Norhaina OMal Pangilayan
Stranded civilians were told to go home when the clash started. Videos captured from a road, meanwhile, showed residents fleeing to safety as armored personnel carrier rolled into town.
Resident Norhaina Pangilayan said it was the BIFF group who advised them to leave the area.
“Yung mga Freedom pinalikas na 'yung mga tao. Kasi 'baka madamay kayo' sabi nila. So ang mga tao nakaalis na. Bago pa dumating mga sundalo, wala nang tao sa loob,” said Pangilayan. (The [rebels] told people to leave so they won't be caught in the crossfire. So the people have already left even before the soldiers came.)
Saturday’s firefight lasted for more than an hour before the military regained control of the area.
The military assured that no soldier nor civilian was hurt and that no property was damaged in the clash.
“Kailangan kasi natin na i-clear muna ang area dahil may nakitang IED sa lugar ngayong humupa na ang sitwasyon” he said. (We still need to clear the area because an IED was spotted there, the situation has subsided.)
The BIFF group encountered by the military was under Commander Karialan.
Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Buluan enforced a temporary lockdown due to the encounter, according to Mayor Dhats Mangudadatu in an announcement on his Facebook page.
"No movement muna po until the situation is in control as will be announced by our PNP and AFP personnel," said Mangudadatu.
Stranded civilians were told to go home when the clash started. Videos captured from a road, meanwhile, showed residents fleeing to safety as armored personnel carrier rolled into town.
Resident Norhaina Pangilayan said it was the BIFF group who advised them to leave the area.
“Yung mga Freedom pinalikas na 'yung mga tao. Kasi 'baka madamay kayo' sabi nila. So ang mga tao nakaalis na. Bago pa dumating mga sundalo, wala nang tao sa loob,” said Pangilayan. (The [rebels] told people to leave so they won't be caught in the crossfire. So the people have already left even before the soldiers came.)
Saturday’s firefight lasted for more than an hour before the military regained control of the area.
The military assured that no soldier nor civilian was hurt and that no property was damaged in the clash.
“Kailangan kasi natin na i-clear muna ang area dahil may nakitang IED sa lugar ngayong humupa na ang sitwasyon” he said. (We still need to clear the area because an IED was spotted there, the situation has subsided.)
The BIFF group encountered by the military was under Commander Karialan.
Meanwhile, the neighboring town of Buluan enforced a temporary lockdown due to the encounter, according to Mayor Dhats Mangudadatu in an announcement on his Facebook page.
"No movement muna po until the situation is in control as will be announced by our PNP and AFP personnel," said Mangudadatu.
Authorities have yet to said if there were casualties from the encounter.
The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which earlier brokered peace with government and is in the process of transition into self-governance in the Bangsamoro region.
WIth reports from Lerio Bompat and Chrislen Bulosan
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/21/islamist-rebels-storm-maguindanao-town-clash-with-state-troops
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/21/islamist-rebels-storm-maguindanao-town-clash-with-state-troops
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