A MEMBER of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed while another was arrested following a clash with government forces in North Cotabato over the weekend.

Brigadier General Roberto Capulong, Army’s 602nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the clash broke out in Lumupong village, Midsayap, North Cotabato, when the troops chanced upon a group of BIFF while conducting security operations.

There were no casualties among the military, he said.

The troops recovered one AK-47 assault rifle, one M-16 Armalite rifle, two long

and one short magazines for caliber 5.56-millimeter (MM), 50 caliber ammunition, one bandolier, one motorboat, two cellular phones, three backpacks, and other personal belongings.

Meanwhile, combined troops of the 34th and 57th Infantry Battalions as well as members of the Midsayap Municipal Police Station apprehended a wounded individual on board an ambulance of the Municipality of Datu Piang in Olandang village, hours after the clash in Lumupong village.

The wounded individual was identified as Maguindale Nawal, 25, an alleged follower of the BIFF-Bungos faction and a resident of Dado village, Datu Piang, Maguindanao. He was wounded on his chest.

Major General Diosdado Carreon, Joint Task Force Central commander, said Nawal was wounded on his chest during the encounter in Lumupog. (SunStar Zamboanga)