At least one MILF fighter is dead in a Valentine's Day clash between the MILF and BIFF
One Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighter was killed during a February 14 clash with members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the army said on Sunday, February 15.
According to Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, that at around 5 pm on Saturday, February 14, the MILF’s Eastern Mindanao Front lead by Commander Jack Abas started exchanging gun fire with the group of one Commander Gani Saligan of the BIFF.
The clash happened at Barangay Kalbugan in Pagalungan town, Maguindanao and ended at around 8pm Saturday. The group commanded by Saligan is under Shiek Muhiddin Animbang alias “Karialan,” Petinglay added.
The MILF’s lone casulty was Datukong Ampuan alias “Commander Falcos” from the 10th base command. The Army has yet to determine how many from the BIFF side died or were injured.
Both army and MILF forces in the area are monitoring the incident, Petinglay added.
"Apparently, the fighting has something to do with the existing land dispute between the two groups," said the Army spokesperson, explaining Abas wanted to drive away the BIFF in the area as they were a threat to the civilians.
Pagalungan is located in the same province where 3 weeks ago, fighters from the BIFF and MILF clashed with troopers from the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Special Action Force.
At least 18 MILF fighters and 44 cops died in a clash that followed an extraction plan gone awry. Cops were in Mamasapano town to neutralize Jemaah Islamiyah member Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as “Marwan.”
The encounter between the SAF, MILF and BIFF is currently the subject of several probes – from the Senate to the PNP.
The government in 2014 signed a peace deal with the MILF that would pave the way for a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, however, is in danger of being stalled indefinitely as a result of the Mamasapano clash.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/83990-biff-milf-clash-maguindanao-pagalungan
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.