Regional Army commander orders massive manhunt vs BIFF after IED blast

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 6): Regional Army commander orders massive manhunt vs BIFF after IED blast

Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, on Friday ordered an offensive against Moro bandits responsible in the improvised bomb attack on government forces that left one soldier killed and wounded three others in Maguindanao.

Pangilinan also ordered the deployment of more soldiers along the national highway in Maguindanao following Thursday afternoon’s roadside bomb attack by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Barangay Maitumaig, Datu Unsay, Maguindanao.

Pangilinan visited the three wounded soldiers at Camp Siongco Hospital Friday afternoon and commended the infantrymen for their bravery following the blast.

Right after the blast, elements of the 45th Infantry Battalion, led by battalion commander Lt. Colonel Donald Hongitan, conducted massive pursuit operations that resulted in the serious injuries of three BIFF members.

The BIFF used an IED fashioned from 105 howitzers ammunition with mobile phone as trigger mechanism.

Pangilinan also lashed at the Moro bandits for using weapon of mass destruction.

Among the wounded was Lt. Leemuel Manicdo, commander of the 45th IB Charlie company stationed in Barangay Maitumaig, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.

Colonel Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said more BIFF were believed to have been killed or wounded but carried by their retreating comrades who fled deep into the Mt. Firis in the borders of Datu Unsay, Shariff Aguak and South Upi, all in Maguindanao.

Hermoso said the injuries suffered by the soldiers were all in their legs and are now recuperating at the military hospital.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=651204