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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