Govt troops repulse New Year attacks by BIFF in North Cotabato

From InterAksyon (Jan 2): Govt troops repulse New Year attacks by BIFF in North Cotabato

Government forces repulsed attempts by fighters of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to occupy three remote communities in North Cotabato on New Year's Day, the Army here said.

Captain Antonio Bulao, speaking for the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade based in Carmen, North Cotabato, said the rebels, who belong to a faction that broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, suffered three wounded during clashes on the border of North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces on New Year’s Eve.

"One of our troops was slightly wounded," Bulao said.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said about 40 BIFF fighters attacked the village of Nabalawag, Pikit town hours before the New Year, engaging soldiers of the 40th Infantry Battalion in a 20-minute firefight.

"No casualty was reported from both sides," Hermoso said.

Then during the early hours of Wednesday, BIFF guerillas also attacked a detachment of the 7th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kolambog, Pikit but alert soldiers staved off the rebels' attempts to occupy the village.

Bulao said no evacuation of civilians was reported.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/77910/govt-troops-repulse-new-year-attacks-by-biff-in-north-cotabato