Mindanao Armed Conflict

CAMP SIONGCO, Awang, DOS, Maguindanao del Norte – Nasawi ang isang kasapi ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters habang arestado naman ang ama nitong sub-leader sa inilatag na decisive military operations ng 33rd Infantry (Makabayan) Battalion at tropa ng 3rd Cavalry sa Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur.

Kinilala ni Lt. Col. Udgie Villan, ang pinuno ng 33IB ang nasawi na si Mohamad Nanding habang nadakip naman ng kasundaluhan ang ama nitong si Mah Nanding alias Marox na sub-group leader ng BIFF.

COTABATO CITY - Six members of the Army’s 44^th Infantry Battalion and eight Dawlah Islamiya terrorists perished in heavy gunfights on Sunday in Barangay Ramain in Munai town in Lanao del Norte.

Four soldiers were wounded in the encounters, according to separate reports from the Lanao del Norte Provincial Police Office and the Army’s 1^st Infantry Division based in Barangay Pulacan in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur.

MANILA – State prosecutors on Friday said they may opt to ask for a change of venue of the trial of suspected terrorist Myrna Mabanza to Manila due to “security concerns.”

In a press briefing, Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rassendell Gingoyon of the Department of Justice Anti-Terrorist Unit noted that following the arrest of the Mabanza, who is accused of facilitating the transfer of funds to international terrorist groups, the next step would be her arraignment in Zamboanga.

KORONADAL CITY  – Military authorities here have announced that it succeeded in dismantling the remaining terrorist cell in South Cotabato-Sarangani province area as more Moro extremists returning to the folds of the law in the Bangsamoro region.

Two communist rebels also decided to lay down guns and avail of the government’s peace and reconciliation offers.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – The leadership of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division and Joint Task Force Central reaffirms its commitment to strengthen ongoing military operations against threat groups in this part of Mindanao.

Major General Alex S. Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander and chief of JTF-Central, highlighted the success of the peace efforts last year conducted by the military in collaboration with local government units, stakeholders, and citizens of Central and South-Central Mindanao.

BUTUAN CITY – Nine communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in a series of skirmishes in the hinterlands of Malaybalay City in Bukidnon province on Christmas Monday.

The Army 4th Infantry Division (4ID) initial report said the series of encounters occurred in the villages of Can-ayan, Kibalabag, Kulaman, and Mapulo.

Eight high-powered firearms, assorted ammunition, and personal belongings were recovered by government forces from the encounter sites.

PIKIT, North Cotabato  – Five gunmen, including a village councilman, who were followers of a village chair and field commander of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed in clashes that erupted Saturday afternoon, police here said.

Major Arvin John Cambang, Pikit municipal police chief, said the fighting between Chairman Sindatok Karim of Barangay Lagunde, and Basit Nando, alias Commander Abu Sabaya, head of MILF 118th base command, erupted at about 3 p.m. in Sitio Edzap, Barangay Lagunde, Pikit, North Cotabato.

COTABATO CITY - ABOT sa 623 mga internally displaced persons o IDP ng mula Barangay Gawang sa Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur ang inabutan ng relief assistance ng MSSD-BARMM bago sila tuluyang bumalik sa kanilang mga tahanan.

Ang mga IDPs ay lumikas dahil sa nangyaring bakabakan ng dalawanbg grupo ng MILF na sangkot sa rido o family feud. Ang pabaon package ay binubuo ng isang sakong bigas, canned goods, kape, asukal, malong, trapal at water container.

COTABATO CITY - Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front killed nine Dawlah Islamiya terrorists and wounded six others in a series of encounters in a barangay along the 220,000-hectare Liguasan Delta over the weekend.

Eight members of the MILF, an erstwhile secessionist guerilla front compelled to help the government address security issues in areas where it has forces by its peace pact with Malacañang, perished in the gunfights.

MANILA – Military troops on Wednesday arrested one of the suspects in the weekend bombing of the Mindanao State University (MSU) gymnasium that killed four persons and injured at least 50 others.

Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad identified the suspect as Jafar Gamo Sultan alias "Jaf" and "Kurot."