6th ID condemns BIFF atrocities, vows to stop lawless group

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -Major General Edmundo R Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division,expressed deepest sympathy to the family of the victims of lawless Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) atrocities. (The)6th IDcondemns the treacherous act of the lawless group, BIFF and will not allow them to continue thriving within Central Mindanao, Pangilinan said in a statement.In November,he has given orders for all units to be extra vigilant and to ensure that the respective communities over which they have jurisdiction will be able to celebrate the season peacefully and smoothly. Despite our alertness on the situation, we still need the help and the cooperation of the community in order to pre-empt the plans of the lawless group,” he said.Early morning of 24 December 2015, members of an armed group who calls themselves Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) shot to death a total of nine civilians after they attacked separate civilian communities in one Sultan Kudarat Province town, two Maguindanao Province towns and one North Cotabato Province town.The gunmen killed five farmers at 5am in the morning after they were able to chance upon the group (farmers) who were on their way to spray insecticides at their farm located about 2 kilometers away from their homes in Brgy Kauran, Ampatuan, Maguindanao. Earlier that day, the Armed Lawless Group (ALG) harassed a military detachment in Sitio Manilong, Brgy Banaba, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao however, after sensing that the military troops were prepared and have laid down pro-active measures to hamper their fires, the gunmen escaped and were immediately pursued by the military.In another area of Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat Province (SKP), the withdrawing ALG took with them hostage a family of four along their withdrawal route in Sitio Kakal, Brgy Paitan, Esperanza, SKP. Two of the hostages were later released while the remaining two were eventually executed.A little after noon time, authorities were able to recover the bodies of the two persons and another dead body was found in almost the same spot where they were seen raising the number of casualties to 8 civilians killed.Shortly before Christmas eve that same day, another group of the ALG harassed Brgy Malagakit, Pigkawayan, North Cotabato and attempted to enter the community but the reinforcing troops of 45IB, 5ID, PA who were stationed a few kilometers away blocked them from doing so and further drove them away from the area. Military forces were also able to safely secure about a hundred people who hid in a building of Malagakit School when the ALG started encroaching. After scouring the area, the military found the dead body of a certain Kagawad Roberto Lirado whose house was also burned by the criminals.Five members of the armed men are reportedly killed and several others wounded during the recent clash with the military in Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao.