4 BIFF gunmen, soldier wounded in North Cotabato clash
Mindanao Armed Conflict • 15:00 PM Tue Dec 15, 2020
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By:
John M. Unson
The armaments of BIFF retrieved by 34thIB troopers in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao. (34th IB photo)
COTABATO CITY ---- Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a soldier were wounded in a brief encounter Sunday in Northern Kabuntalan town in Maguindanao.
The gunfight erupted when a group of BIFF terrorists led by Omar Abdullah opened fire on personnel of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion dispatched to check their presence in Sitio Macabenban in Barangay Indatuan in Northern Kabuntalan as reported by villagers.
Abdullah, also known as Commander OV-10, and his men were collecting “protection money” from hapless villagers then.
Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Tuesday a soldier was wounded in the ensuing encounter.
Barangay folk and sources from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said stories have since been spreading around purporting that four BIFF members were also wounded in the incident, initially identified only as Samad, Sindatu, Onting and Kusay.
“We also received the same reports from patriotic residents of the municipality but we can’t confirm that four BIFF members were indeed wounded because we don’t have actual body count. The reports are very persistent though,” Uy said.
Abdullah and his followers scampered away carrying their wounded companions as more soldiers arrived to help drive them away.
"The soldier wounded in the encounter is now in a hospital," Uy said without elaborating.
Soldiers conducting clearing operations found a cal. 50 Barret rifle, a cal. 45 pistol, five rifle grenades, one improvised explosive device, one commercial radio, and one motorized Banca engine.
Uy said the 6th ID is thankful to local residents who informed the 34th IB of the group’s presence in Barangay Indatuan, enabling soldiers to immediately flush them out.