CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao — Government forces running after the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao overran a rebel camp and seized high-powered guns and explosives on Wednesday.
Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the recovery of the war materiel came after a brief firefight between troopers of the 40th Infantry Battalion and the BIFF in Barangay Nabundas, Shariff Saydona Mustapha town.
Sobejana said the soldiers encountered some 40 BIFF fighters under sub-leaders Zainuddin Kiaro, Noel Ganoy, and Muslimin Amilil. The soldiers, equipped with night vision goggles, successfully penetrated the terrorists’ lair around 4 a.m. and a 20-minute gun battle ensued.
“After the brief clash, the BIFF fled deep into the vast Liguasan marshland situated nearby,” Sobejana said. Sobejana, also head of Task Force Central, said military operating units are still trying to determine if the BIFF suffered casualties.
“There was no casualty on the military or civilian side,” he added. In the abandoned lair, soldiers recovered two M-16 rifles, one M-79 grenade launcher, two improvised bombs, and assorted ammunition.
Sobejana lauded the civilians who tipped off the Army about the presence of the terrorists’ hideout in the area.
BIFF gunmen, who were not known among the village people, have been demanding “zakat” (religious tax), especially now that the community has started harvesting corn crops, according to the residents.
Shariff Saydona Mustapha is a town situated within the so-called SPMS box, a military term to describe the adjoining municipalities of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano, and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, where the BIFF mainly operate.
The group has been blamed for recent bombings in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato provinces. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
