BIFF's use of IEDs, booby traps imperil civilians

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao -- Authorities are scrambling to locate dozens of powerful booby traps scattered by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in farmlands at the tri-boundary of Maguindanao’s adjoining Datu Piang, Datu Salibo and Datu Saudi towns.Local officials said the explosives, some fashioned from live mortar rounds and shoulder-fire grenades rigged with victim-activated” blasting contraptions, are meant to forestall pursuit by soldiers when BIFF forces perpetrate guerilla attacks anywhere in the three towns. The problem is these can also kill or maim civilians because these improvised bombs can explode when accidentally activated upon contact, lamented a senior member of the municipal peace and order council in Datu Salibo.Ordnance operatives of different Army units under the Army’s 6thInfantry Division deactivated in the past ten days dozens of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along farm trails in Datu Salibo, where BIFF gunmen and soldiers have been trading shots in one encounter after another since January.Captain Jo-ann Petinglay, spokesperson of 6thID, said their main concern now is how to locate the other IEDs scattered by bandits. Deactivating them is easier than locating the spots where they were planted,” Petinglay said.The BIFF is known for its total disregard of the safety of non-combatants, motorists and commuters when perpetrating guerilla attacks on villages and communities along national highways.The group is also notorious for using captives as human shields” when cornered by pursuing soldiers.Domestic and international mine action groups condemned last week the BIFF’s wanton use of IEDs on both military and civilian targets.The Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines and its international partner, the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action had called on the BIFF to stop using IEDs with victim-activated blasting mechanisms, such as bobby traps, that are harmful to soldiers and civilians.The use of victim-activated IEDs, having the same function as the globally banned-anti-personnel landmines, is a clear violation of international humanitarian law, both entities said in a statement.