Gov’t Forces Capture Another BIFF Camp After Air, Ground Assaults in Maguindanao

Camp Siongco, Maguindanao (PNA) — Another camp of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was captured during air and ground assaults by the military-led Task Force Central (TFC), a regional Army spokesperson today said.

“Our offensives led to the capture of another BIFF encampment in Guindulungan, Maguindanao,” Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the Task Force Central, told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview.

Citing reports from the grounds, Petinglay said at least eight or nine BIFF fighters were killed when two MG-520 helicopter gunships conducted six air strike sorties.

The capture of another smaller camp Sunday came as civilians tipped off the Philippine Marines about the presence of BIFF massing in a remote village of Guindulungan.

She said helicopter pilots saw the BIFF on board a motorized boats fleeing in the Maguindanao marshland.

More than 100 BIFF have been neutralized in the military law enforcement operation aimed at getting international terrorists coddled by the BIFF.

The government side suffered six fatalities, including an Army captain, and 29 wounded infantrymen.

Petinglay said the Marines and Army forces clashed with the group of Mohammad Ali Tambako, leader of another group of BIFF, still fighting government forces.

On Saturday, TFC conducted artillery offensives against BIFF in the village of Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan where government forces seized bomb making materials kept by the fleeing guerillas in a shallow grave.

Petinglay said among the fatalities in Saturday’s offensive were three close kins of Filipino bomb making expert Basit Usman. The trio were part of the 15-man close-in security of Usman who engaged police elite forces in Mamasapano on January 25.

The government action has already displaced more than 91,000 civilians housed in temporarily in 72 evacuation sites.

On Sunday, the national government has vowed to provide relief assistance as long as the IDPs are still in evacuation sites, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Abegail Valte. (PNA) CTB/NYP/EOF