SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao – Government forces are relentlessly pursuing IS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) here that killed a soldier and wounded two civilians in separate roadside explosions Tuesday.
Private First Class Ian Chris Celeste, a member of the 57th Infantry Battalion, was killed due to shrapnel injuries in a blast Tuesday while he and companions were conducting post-clash operation near Mt. Firis, Barangay Maitumaig, Datu Unsay town.
A report by the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade said the 9 a.m. Tuesday roadside bombing was part of the BIFF’s diversionary tactic in withdrawing from the mountains of Datu Unsay, Datu Saudi and Datu Hofer towns where sporadic clashes erupted since December 25.
Two hours earlier on same day, the BIFF also set off a roadside bomb along the stretch of national highway in Barangay Labo-Labo, Datu Hofer, Maguindanao, which injured two passersby.
Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said a convoy of military vehicles from the 57th IB was proceeding to Datu Hofer town proper when the bomb exploded but missed the vehicles.
Two civilians, however, sustained injuries from the incident.
On Sunday, Pfc. Carl Anthony Dionaga of 64th Reconnaissance Company was killed in clashes with the BIFF in Sitio Firis after the militants harassed government forces.
His companion, Pfc. Harold John Dionisio was also wounded. The weekend encounters also left 10 BIFF killed and two wounded.
Government forces recovered six of the bodies of slain rebels.
On New Year’s Eve, a police officer, SPO4 Max Kaibat, died in a roadside bombing in Datu Hofer. Five of his companions were hurt.
On Jan. 1, a roadside bomb injured two infantrymen in Barangay Limpongo, also in Datu Hofer. The military truck was carrying relief goods for Teduray natives displaced by the ongoing hostilities when the improvised explosive device exploded.
Dela Vega said the Army is expecting more attacks by the group to avenge the deaths of members in a series of encounters with soldiers in the surroundings of Mt. Firis last weekend.
On the BIFF’s side, 10 militants died while two others were wounded.
Among the dead was a certain Abu Omar, a BIFF bomb experts trained by slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, according to Dela Vega.
At 8 p.m. Tuesday, artillery fire was launched against the group of BIFF sub-leader Ustadz Abdullah Roman in Barangay Sambolawan, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao while trying to come closer to the detachment of Bravo Company, 57th IB.
Dela Vega said the attempt by the BIFF to harass Army station in Datu Salibo was part of a deceptive tactic of the BIFF to divert Army attention and allow the group of BIFF Commander Kagui Karialan to move out from the vicinity of Mt. Firis going to nearby Liguasan Marsh.
“We thwarted their attempt to overrun an Army detachment, our campaign against BIFF is continuing and persistent,” Dela Vega said in a statement Wednesday. (PNA)
