FLASHand 2 young soldiers die in BIFF attack in Maguindanao

SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguidanao — Two young soldiers, with a rank ofprivate first class, werekilled Monday in another daring attack by suspected members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the Army here said today.Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the 6th Army Division said, the incident took place while the victims were heading to Meta Elementary School in Datu Unsay, Maguindanao at past 3 p.m.The slain soldiers were part of the Army engineers working on the rehabilitation of the school damaged by armed conflict in February.Petinglay said initial reports showed that the victims, whose identities were withheld unless their next of kins are fully informed, were riding tandem on a motorbike along the national highway when the suspects tailing themon separate motorcycle, opened fire.The victims were unarmed and wearing athletics uniform when fired at.Petinglay said the victims went to Shariff Aguak to fetch construction instruments when the shooting occurred.Responding soldiers found empty shells for cal. 45 pistol at the crime scene.Petignlay said the suspects also took the soldiers' motorbike and fled toward the so calledSPMS box (Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak box).The soldiers rushed the victims to the Maguindanao provincial hospital but they were declared dead on arrival. It was very unfortunate that these unarmed soldiers working for peace were killed in a treacherous way by the BIFF, they don’t even care for the future of the children in the area whom the soldiers were serving, Petinglay said.The 6th ID's engineers have been rehabilitating the school which was damaged by fire and mortar attack during the February government forces-BIFF clashes.Today's attacks by the BIFF was the third since last week.On Monday,BIFF members, led by Commander Salah, son of BIFF founding chair Ameril Umra Kato,killed a soldier of the2nd Mechanized Battalion in Datu Piang town. Two other soldierswere wounded.On Tuesday, BIFF bandits also killed two persons in an ambush in Barangay Palian, Shariff Saydona, Maguindanao. The victims, one of them wearing a t-shirtwith Police markings,were on board a white Toyota Innova vehicle when waylaid by BIFF.When sought for comment about the latest incident, Abu Misry Mama, BIFF spokesperson, repliedand No other group now fighting the military, it is only the BIFF.”