Army eyes BIFF in Datu Saudi Ampatuan ambush of 3 persons

COTABATO CITY –
The military blamed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the
ambush of three civilians in Barangay Lower Salbu, Datu Piang, Maguindanao Friday
night.

Captain Joanne
Petinglay, chief of the 6th Infantry Division public affairs unit,
said the ambush site was a known bailiwick of the outlawed BIFF.

An Army intelligence officer who requested he is not named in the report for lack of authority to speak said the gunmen could be BIFF. He did not give further details.

But Abu Misry
Mama, BIFF spokesperson, said his group was not responsible in the incident and
blamed the Army instead since the ambush site was near a military and militia
detachment.

The ambush occurred
at past 7 p.m. in front of Datu Pendililang Elementary School in Barangay Lower
Salbu.

The victims,
who remained unclaimed at Maguindanao provincial hospital in Shariff Aguak as
of posting, were on board a Toyota Corolla (TEM-896) heading toward Datu Piang town
when two gunmen, opened fire on the vehicle.

Military reports
said the vehicle was registered in the name of a certainRayniel Joson, a resident of Ulas
district, Davao City.

Petinglay said
the victims – two males and a female – were unidentified to date.

Witnesses said
two gunmen waited for the vehicle to pass by and opened fire with M-16 Armalite
rifle then fled on board a motorbike toward interior portion of Datu Saudi
Ampatuan.

Responding
police and soldiers failed to catch up with the suspects.

Police
recovered empty shells for cal. 45 pistol and M-16 Armalite rifle at the crime
scene.

Abu Misry Mama,
speaking for the BIFF, denied involvement in the ambush, saying his group do
not attack civilians.

Last month, an
Army major and two others were killed along the same highway linking Datu Saudi
Ampatuan and Datu Piang, both in Maguindanao, where the BIFF operates.

Mama claimed
they were responsible in that ambush and the execution of three other soldiers.