9 BIFF men, 1 soldier dead in clash in Maguindanao

From Malaya Business Insight (Jan 8): 9 BIFF men, 1 soldier dead in clash in Maguindanao

NINE members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a soldier were killed while another soldier was wounded in a firefight in Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao on Saturday, the military reported yesterday.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao, said a group of about 50 BIFF men was planning to attack a military detachment when they met soldiers from the Army’s 64th Division Reconnaissance Company, who were conducting security patrol in Barangay Maitumaig at around at 7:20 p.m. Saturday.

Encinas said the encounter BIFF group belongs to the faction of BIFF leader Kagui Karialan but could not immediately say if Karailan was among those engaged by the operating troops.

Encinas said soldiers and the BIFF men traded fire until around midnight when the enemy withdrew. He said aircraft and artillery assets conducted fire missions in support of the soldiers during the firefight.

Encinas said soldiers recovered at the encounter site five bodies of BIFF members. He said four other BIFF men were reported killed, based on intelligence information and reports from civilians.

“We were able to hit the group that is planning to harass our detachment,” said Encinas of the encountered BIFF group, without elaborating on the unit which is supposed to be attacked by the BIFF men.

Government forces have stepped up operations against the BIFF since August last year, in collaboration with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which signed a peace accord with government in 2014.

The military classifies the BIFF as a terrorist organization. Along with the Abu Sayyaf and the Maute Group, it has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria a few years ago.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/9-biff-men-1-soldier-dead-clash-maguindanao