3 BIFF rebels killed in Maguindanao clash

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 9): 3 BIFF rebels killed in Maguindanao clash

Outlawed Moro guerillas tried but failed to overrun an Army post in a remote village of Maguindanao after skirmishes flared up that left three BIFF killed, the Army on Monday said.

The incident happened late Sunday afternoon in Barangay Ganta, Shariff Saydona, Maguindanao, according to Col. Dickson Hermoso.

Hermoso, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the hostilities erupted when BIFF bandits surrounded a company command post of the 61st Division Reconnaissance Company of the 6th Infantry Division in Barangay Ganta, Shariff Saidona and, without warning, fired anti-tank rockets and assault rifles on bunkers and sleeping quarters of soldiers.

Hermoso said the soldiers inside the Army camp managed to return fire, preventing the bandits from closing in.

Hermoso said a member of the 61st reconnaissance team was wounded in the initial exchanges of gunfire.

With the huge number of BIFF bandits, Hermoso said the Army used mortars and howitzers forcing the attacker to retreat toward the marshland.

The bandits’ escape route was heavily stained with blood.

Hermoso believed many guerillas were either killed or wounded after soldiers recovered two shirts drenched in human blood.

“We can’t confirm the exact number of fatalities. The reports coming from local residents said three men were seen wrapped in malong carried by retreating rebels,” he said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=651624