4 BIFF killed, 1 soldier hurt as bandits attack Maguindanao Army, MILF posts
Breaking News • 15:58 PM Mon Nov 17, 2014
1,705
By:
DXMS Radyo Bida
6th ID sokesperson Colonel Dickson Hermoso (6idkampilantroopers.com)
CAMP SIONGCO,
Maguindanao - Four Moro bandits were killed and soldier a soldier was
wounded when Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters simultaneously attacked Army
and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) positions in Maguindanao on Sunday
night.
Colonel
Dickson Hermoso, speaking for the 6th Infantry Division, said about
50 BIFF bandits fired mortars and assault rifles on elements of the 45th
Infantry Battalion in Barangay Sapakan, Raja Buayan, Maguindanao beginning at 8:45
p.m.
Hermoso told DXMS
Radyo Bida the BIFF was trying to overrun Army positions and in the process
they also attacked an MILF detachment in the village.
The wounded
soldier only sustained minor injuries and is out of danger, Hermoso said. No
casualty on the MILF side who along with the Army traded shots with the
attacking BIFF.
In a phone
interview, Abu Misry Mama, speaking for the BIFF, admitted their forces were
involved in the Raja Buayan incident.
We confirm we
attacked the Army detachment but we deny we suffered four dead,” Mama said,
adding that the Army suffered three fatalities, including an Army lieutenant.
Hermoso denied
Mama’s claim. He said the Raja Buayan
incident was among the series of harassments launched by the BIFF since last
week.
”Our troops had
been on alert since last week because of the BIFF atrocities,” Hermoso said.
Last Friday,
two civilians were killed when a mortar fired by the BIFF from Maguindanao hit
a fleeing group of civilians in Barangay Kabasalan, Pikit, North Cotabato.
Earlier, BIFF
led by Commander Carealan, attacked two detachments of the 7th
Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kabasalan, launching mortar attacks from across
the river which was part of Maguindanao.
No casualty on
the Army side.
The BIFF also
harassed Army positions in Datu Piang, Maguindanao forcing hundreds of
civilians fleeing.
Hermoso vowed
the military will ensure the safety of civilians and condemned the BIFF for
attacking civilian areas in the marshy borders of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.