Monday, July 21, 2014

4 rebels killed, 8 civilians hurt in Maguindanao clashes

From Rappler (Jul 21): 4 rebels killed, 8 civilians hurt in Maguindanao clashes

2 soldiers are also wounded after BIFF rebels attacked two military units in Maguindanao



 
Claiming it was a retaliation for the alleged abduction of two civilians, about 100 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked two military installations in Maguindanao Sunday evening, July 20.

The military said the rebels launched two simultaneous attacks targetting the 62nd Division Recon Company in Barangay Damabalas in Datu Piang town and the 61st Division Recon Company in Barangay Ganta in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.

BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama said 4 rebels were killed while 2 others were wounded in the firefight. He said 8 civilians were also wounded after an alleged government artillery fire fell and exploded near the house which they were hiding in.

At least 2 soldiers were also hurt in the gunfire and are now being treated in the hospital, according to the military.

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the bigger Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has signed a peace agreement with the Aquino government. But process is fraught with challenges. A draft bill creating the Bangsamoro region is facing rough sailing in the executive branch as the MILF is apparently unhappy with some of its provisions.

Mama said the BIFF's latest attack is an act of "retribution" for the alleged abduction of Mohammad Abdulkarim and his 14-year-old son Mehad Mohammad in Shariff Aguak town last July 3.

Earlier, the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center posted an alert about the incident, stating that the victims were on a motorcycle when they were accosted by suspected government forces. MinHRAC quoted the family of the victims as saying that they went to the military to look for them but were told that both were allowed to leave.

The military said the accusations are desperate moves of the BIFF.

"We know that we have not wounded civilians because the initiative of the attack came from the BIFF," said Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/63928-rebels-killed-civilians-hurt-maguindanao-clash

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