SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao—Policemen in Datu Salibo town thwarted an attempt by a suspected IS-linked group to overrun their station on Wednesday night.
Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, police director for Maguindanao, said about 10 heavily armed men, using M-79 grenades and high-powered weapons, fired at the police station in Barangay Sambolawan, Datu Salibo, at around 7 p.m.
This prompted policemen to return fire despite being undermanned, Tello said, resulting to 45-minute firefight.
The attackers fled after sensing the arrival of reinforcement from Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion, backed by armored personnel carriers, in the area.
The police station is located beside the national highway linking Datu Salibo and Datu Saudi Ampatuan towns in Maguindanao.
Tello said initial investigation showed the harassment was perpetrated by elements of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) Kagui Karialan faction.
No casualty was reported on the government side. Neither could police confirm if the attackers suffered casualties during the gun battle.
Soldiers and police personnel in Datu Salibo, where BIFF maintains a heavy presence, have been placed on heightened alert following the incident. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
