Soldier injured in separate attacks in restive Maguindanao province

From the Mindanao Examiner (Nov 18): Soldier injured in separate attacks in restive Maguindanao province

A government soldier was wounded in an attack by jihadists on an army base in the restive province of Maguindanao in the Muslim autonomous region, officials said Saturday.

Officials said a school was also attacked in the province, but there was no report of casualties. Both attacks on Friday night had been largely blamed to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters whose leaders have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

The identity of the wounded soldier was withheld by the military, but said he is a member of the 57th Infantry Battalion which has been involved in fighting the BIFF in the province. One of its detachments in Timbangan village in Shariff Aguak town came under attack with militants raining rockets and rifle grenades on the army post.

Soldiers also fought back, however, there were no reports of enemy casualties. The assault came minutes ahead of another attack at the Gani Abpi College in Datu Unsay town. It was unclear why it was targeted by the BIFF, but soldiers were patrolling the town regularly.

Both Maguindanao Govern0r Toto Mangudadatu and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman did not release a statement on the violence in the province where security forces are battling BIFF militants since early this week. Most of its members were former fighters of the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front who broke away and are opposed to peace talks with the Filipino government.

The militant group is fighting for a separate Muslim homeland in the troubled region.

http://mindanaoexaminer.com/soldier-injured-in-separate-attacks-in-restive-maguindanao-province/