Friday, January 1, 2016

BIFF tries, fails to over-run Army bases in Maguindanao on New Year's Eve

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 1): BIFF tries, fails to over-run Army bases in Maguindanao on New Year's Eve

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao - Government forces on New Year’s Eve repulsed three attempts by outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to over-run military detachments in Maguindanao, the Army here said today.


Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said the first attempt to capture Army detachments of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion in Datu Piang, Maguindanao at 6 p.m. Thursday by firing a series of rifle grenades.

Alert soldiers quickly returned fire against about 10 BIFF fighters sighted near the Army detachment, forcing the attackers to retreat toward the marshland.

Three hours later, about 30 BIFF members attacked another detachment, this time the 34th Infantry Battalion outpost in Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

Alert infantrymen engaged the attackers in a 20-minute firefight which led to the failure of BIFF’s attempt to get closer. They fled under cover of darkness to the hinterlands.

Petinglay said in a report that at past 10 p.m., another band of 40 BIFF fighters attacked the detachment of 40th Infantry Battalion in Shariff Saydona, Maguindanao.

Like in other Army base subjected to harassment by the BIFF, soldiers immediately returned fire forcing the attacks to retreat.

“No casualty on the government side,” she said in a radio interview. “There were reports from the communities that the BIFF had injured companions but the report is still subject to Army validation,” she added.

Following the December 24 attacks by the BIFF in Kauran, Ampatuan, Maguindanao and nearby areas, soldiers under the 6th ID have been placed on heightened alert.

Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesperson, admitted his group carried out the attacks.

Petinglay said all Army units remained on alert.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=842653

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