From CNN Philippines (May 8, 2021): Maguindanao town 'under control' after BIFF gunmen cause stir, fight with troops
Government troops clashed with Islamist militants who caused a commotion in a public market in Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao early Saturday, according to military officials who said the situation is now "under control" after the gunmen fled.
Troops and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed for "15 to 30 minutes," Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander, told CNN Philippines. Uy said no one died or got hurt among security forces and civilians, but it remains unclear if any BIFF fighter was killed.
"Hindi namin, hindi ko ma-ascertain but definitely may tinamaan," he said, citing witnesses.
[Translation: We cannot, I cannot ascertain [if there are casualties] but definitely some got shot.]
There was no property damage, he added.
What happened?
At around 4 a.m., members of the BIFF Karialan Faction "threatened" some civilians in a public market in Barangay Poblacion, Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, 6th Infantry Division spokesman told reporters.
Baldomar said he cannot "ascertain" the exact number of BIFF rebels in the area, but some witnesses saw "more or less" 80 of them. Uy, meanwhile, said authorities spotted less than 20 rebels who were searching for food after clashing with troops in previous days.
Civilians fled the market "out of fear" and reported the rebels' presence to troops nearby, Baldomar said. Government forces immediately responded and evacuated those affected, he added. Troops cordoned off the portion of the Poblacion market and closed a part of the national highway in Datu Paglas for safety reasons. Some people were left stranded while the highway was being closed. As the rebel forces were "withdrawing" from the Maguindanao town, they fired shots at the national highway, prompting troops to fire back.
"Habang nandun pa sa area, may mga civilian kasi tayo na naipit nung sinarado yung highway, may mga civilian tayo na nandun sa part ng highway, ito ay pinaputukan ng mga armadong grupo kaya tayo ay nagretaliate...para maprotektahan yung mga civilian na ito at evacuate natin sila," Baldomar said.
[Translation: Shots were fired at the highway where stranded civilians were, so we retaliated to protect and evacuate the civilians.]
CNN Philippines Correspondent David Santos contributed to this report
https://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2021/5/8/BIFF-fighters-Datu-Paglas-updates.html
At around 4 a.m., members of the BIFF Karialan Faction "threatened" some civilians in a public market in Barangay Poblacion, Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, 6th Infantry Division spokesman told reporters.
Baldomar said he cannot "ascertain" the exact number of BIFF rebels in the area, but some witnesses saw "more or less" 80 of them. Uy, meanwhile, said authorities spotted less than 20 rebels who were searching for food after clashing with troops in previous days.
Civilians fled the market "out of fear" and reported the rebels' presence to troops nearby, Baldomar said. Government forces immediately responded and evacuated those affected, he added. Troops cordoned off the portion of the Poblacion market and closed a part of the national highway in Datu Paglas for safety reasons. Some people were left stranded while the highway was being closed. As the rebel forces were "withdrawing" from the Maguindanao town, they fired shots at the national highway, prompting troops to fire back.
"Habang nandun pa sa area, may mga civilian kasi tayo na naipit nung sinarado yung highway, may mga civilian tayo na nandun sa part ng highway, ito ay pinaputukan ng mga armadong grupo kaya tayo ay nagretaliate...para maprotektahan yung mga civilian na ito at evacuate natin sila," Baldomar said.
[Translation: Shots were fired at the highway where stranded civilians were, so we retaliated to protect and evacuate the civilians.]
CNN Philippines Correspondent David Santos contributed to this report
https://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2021/5/8/BIFF-fighters-Datu-Paglas-updates.html
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