One of the civilians injured in renewed fighting in Maguindanao, 22 July 2014. PHOTO BY JO HENRY OF ARMM-HEART
Alias City Hunter, the second highest ranking member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter, was among the 17 Moro rebels killed in fresh fighting in Maguindanao, Colonel Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said Tuesday.
Hermoso said City Hunter’s four security aides, identified as Dris Salik, Mashud Ali, Nur Hassan, and Mantawil Kaliga, were also killed after they attacked two military detachments in Maguindanao.
He said two soldiers were wounded in the attack. (A separate article from the Philippines News Agency said a trooper was killed and three soldiers were wounded.)
"Verification of the identities of another 12 BIFF members who perished in the ensuing firefights is ongoing with the help of barangay officials and imams (Muslim leaders) as they were hastily buried by their comrades after they withdrew from the scene at 2 p.m. yesterday," Hermoso said.
BIFF fighters separately attacked the camps of the 31st and 32nd Reconnaissance Companies in Barangay Ganta, Sharif Saydona Mustapha and Barangay Dumablas, Datu Piang, respectively.
Intense fighting broke out when the brigands attacked the outpost in Sharif Saydona Mustapha town around 12: 15 a.m.
This was followed by another attack in Datu Piang an hour later.
Return fire from government soldiers stationed there killed 17 BIFF men, Hermoso said.
The military and police labeled the BIFF as lawless armed group, a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that shunned peace talks with the government.
Civilians injured
In a related development, three civilians were rushed to the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center after sustaining injuries from bullets of a 105 Howitzer.
They were identified as Mohamidin Umal, 17, Kingaw Umal, 40, and Andiale Gumandal, 35, all sustained bullet wounds in different parts of the body.
The three were among nine civilians who experienced severe trauma due to the heavy fighting between the BIFF and the military.
Apart from the wounded, more than 300 farmer families were affected by renewed firefight, according to the initial information gathered by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM-HEART).
In relation to this, the ARMM leadership called on both sides to ceasefire, particularly as it is still Ramadan, a period of fasting among Muslims.
ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia said she is saddened that innocent civilians are affected every time fighting happens.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/91694/second-highest-ranking-biff-16-others-killed-in-maguindanao-clashes----military
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