Military bombs BIFF with JI senior leader in Maguindanao
• 21:09 PM Tue Mar 14, 2017
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By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera
Government soldiers in armored tank proceeds to Barangay Gawang, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao to push for offensives vs. BIFF Monday, March 13, 2017. (FC)
DATU SALIBO,
Maguindanao – The military’s 6th Infantry Division on
Monday launched aerial and ground attacks against the Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao after a senior leader of Jemaah Islamiyah was
sighted with the group.
Colonel
Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, said the
target of law enforcement operation was the BIFF under Commander Bongos who was
confirmed to have been protecting Mohammad Ali, alias Mauwiyah, a Singaporean
member of Jemaah Islamiya.
He has been
training BIFF in bomb making, Carreon said.
On Monday dawn,
two FA50 fighter jets dropped bombs in the villages of Gawang and Andavit in
Datu Salibo town. Minutes after bombs were dropped, two MG-520 attack
helicopters provided air support to ground troops that entered the villages.
Four
improvised explosive devices (IEDS) met them in a road leading to the target
area. It took several hours before the
troops maneuvered toward the village as bomb experts defused one IED and forced
to explode three others.
There’s no
letup in our operation, our mission is to neutralize the group who has been
threatening our people, Carreon said in Filipino.
Citing
intelligence information, Carreon said Mauwiyah has been training BIFF members
in bomb making and other terrorist activities.
Carreon said
before Monday’s offensive that is still continuing today, the BIFF had been
harassing government forces in Datu Salibo and Shariff Aguak. In fact, he said, two soldiers were hurt in
bomb attacks by the lawless group.
We could not
say how many BIFF fighters were killed or injured, we are still evaluating the
situation, Carreon said.
At least 200
families from Andavit and Gawang and in nearby areas have fled to safer
grounds. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)