Army captures BIFF camp in Maguindanao-Sultan Kudarat border

TACURONG CITY - The military has captured a training camp of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) after house of mortar shelling and ground assaults by the military, an Army official said.Lt. Colonel Markton Abu, commander of the 33rd Infantry Battalion, said the bandits have fled, leaving its camp situated in Sitio Pedtad, Barangay Midpantakan, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao.Howitzers were fired toward the Liguasan marshland which was part of Salipada Pendatun town, sending Moro bandits to disperse to smaller groups toward the marshland.Abu said the captured camp belonged to the 2nd division of the BIFF which served as its launching pad in attacking Army positions in SK Pendatun town and in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat province.A soldier was killed and three others were wounded when BIFF simultaneously attack two Army bases in adjacent towns.Abu could not say whether the BIFF suffered fatalities during the shelling which began before dawn.He said the bandits have also been harassing civilians now that farmers are about to harvest crops.A farmer who asked not to be named said they were forced to arm themselves as self defense since the BIFF had been making them 'target paper' that they snipe from the marshland. It always happen when harvest season comes, he said.