TWO people, including a leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), were killed while a soldier was wounded in a clash in Midsayap, North Cotabato, the military said Monday.

Colonel Gerry Besana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) information office, said the clash happened around 5:10 a.m. on Black Saturday, April 20, at Sitio Macantal in Olandang village.

Besana identified the slain BIFF leader as Mando Mamalompong alias DM and Nur Hamid Sabdulla alias Tong, one of Mamalompong’s followers.

He said the clash ensued when the followers of Mamalompong opened fire while the joint military and police team were serving a warrant of arrest against the BIFF leader.

Mamalompong has standing warrants of arrest for murder and frustrated murder.

The troops recovered from the clash site one M-16 Armalite rifle, one M-14 rifle and assorted magazines and ammunition.

Brigadier General Alfredo Rosario, Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, attributed the success of the law enforcement operation to the information shared by the residents who do not want terrorists’ presence in their community.

Major General Cirilito Sobejana, Army’s 6th Infantry Division commaner, said they doing their best to defeat the enemy with the community’s full cooperation and support.

“The entire community is hoping that this menace of society will come to an end and that peace and development will push unhampered,” Sobejana said.

The wounded soldier was taken to the hospital for treatment.

“We will take all means to protect the people, secure vulnerable villages, and push our offensives until the terror threats are completely eliminated in our area of operation,” said Lieutenant General Arnel Dela Vega, Westmincom chief.

“I once again enjoin everyone to help and support Team Westmincom in this fight against terrorism here in the region,” Dela Vega added. (SunStar Philippines)