Friday, January 9, 2015

Army, CAFGU foil BIFF attempt to over-run detachment in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 9): Army, CAFGU foil BIFF attempt to over-run detachment in Maguindanao

In a bid to get back at government forces, suspected Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) harassed Friday morning a militia detachment in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, the military here said.

But the attempt to over-run a military base was repulsed by alert soldiers and para-military troops.

Nobody was injured when about 20 armed BIFF fired rockets toward the detachment of 38th Infantry Battalion Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in Sitio Timbangan, Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak at about 4 a.m.

Capt. Joanne Petinglay, chief of 6th Infantry Division public affairs office, could not say if the attackers also suffered casualties when the militiamen returned fire. Fighting lasted for about 15 minutes.

Petinglay said the BIFF, was led by Daud Kansi alias Rocky of BIFF Special Operations Group.

”It was part of the retaliatory attacks by the BIFF after their main camp in Gen. SK Pendatun, Maguindanao was captured by our troops,” Petinglay said.

”We expect more attacks from the BIFF, we have alerted all our units in areas where the BIFF is likely to attack,” she added.

On Monday, the soldiers of the 33rd Infantry Battalion hoisted Philippine flag inside the former BIFF major camp in Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat borders which fell to government hands following massive military action.

Colonel Mel Feliciano, 601st Infantry Brigade chief, said the military will launch more offensives once intelligence information confirms the existence of BIFF camps.

”We will make their world smaller until they are fully eradicated,” Feliciano told reporters after the Army action.

The BIFF is composed of about 1,000 armed men engaged in carnapping, kidnapping, bombing and extortion activities in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

It is pushing for the establishment of an Independent Islamic state in Mindanao.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=723533

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