Kalinaw News: Government Troops thwarted Violent Extremists’ planned attack in Maguindanao

Posted to Kalinaw News (Mar 18, 2021): Government Troops thwarted Violent Extremists’ planned attack in Maguindanao



Camp Siongco, Maguindanao – Armed clashes between troops of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) and violent extremists belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) erupted around 10 o’clock in the morning and 3 o’clock in the afternoon of March 18, 2021 at Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Government forces conducted clearing operations in response to reports of local residents for the presence of armed BIFF members in the outskirts of their barangays who were planning to attack the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) outpost located at Barangay Kitango in the said Municipality, forcing the residents to evacuate their communities.

The presence of the JPST Outpost is being manned by composite teams from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Philippine Army (PA), and Philippine National Police (PNP), who were deployed to function as peacekeeping forces to ensure the security of residents within the six government-acknowledged MILF camps.

Col. Pedro Balisi, the Brigade Commander of 1st Mechanized Brigade said that upon receipt of such reports from the local residents, government forces immediately conducted clearing operations and encountered more or less thirty (30) violent extremists belonging to the BIFF. “Thanks to the help and cooperation of the local residents by reporting the presence of armed men in their communities thus allowing our forces to preempt possible atrocities of the said group,” Col. Balisi said.

There were no casualties reported from the government forces while casualty from the BIFF is yet to be determined based on the bloodstains on the area as reported by the government forces on the ground. The clearing operation of the nearby barangays is still ongoing as of this reporting.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Commander of JTFC and 6th Infantry Division lauded the troops of the 1st Mechanized Brigade for their dedication to protect our communities from the atrocities of the violent extremists. “We would like to assure the residents of the Province of Maguindanao that your soldiers from JTFC and 6ID are committed to serve the people and protect the communities of Maguindanao. We will not let our guards down and assures our fellow Filipinos that together we will address the threat presented by these violent extremist groups,” Maj. Gen. Uy added.

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https://www.kalinawnews.com/government-troops-thwarted-violent-extremists-planned-attack-in-maguindanao/