18 killed, 11 wounded in army-BIFF clashes

FOURTEEN Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and four soldiers were killed while 11 others wounded in series of clashes in the province of Maguindanao, the military said Saturday, March 7.

This, as the Joint Task Force Central mounted offensives against the Daesh-inspired BIFF in Maguindanao.

Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said that acting on reports received from the communities, troops utilized air and artillery assets to bombard the BIFF lairs in Salman Village, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Sobejana said ground troops conducted combat operations to preempt the reported terror plots of the group.

He said armed confrontations also ensued between the military troops and the BIFFs in the towns of Ampatuan and Hoffer, Maguindanao.

Gaining grounds, the Westmincom chief said the troops intensified operations to penetrate the enemy stronghold.

Sobejana said the troops recovered assorted firearms, ammunitions, improvised explosive devices, and war materiel from BIFF encampments.

He said the troops have also recovered the remains of five of the 14 slain BIFFs.

The army official did not release the identities of the four slain and 11 wounded soldiers, who belong to the Joint Task Force Central.

“We salute the bravery of our fallen soldiers who fought up to the last drop of their blood just to spare the communities from the treachery of the heartless enemies,” he said.

“We nevertheless, pursue our campaign to pound down the remaining terrorists, penetrate enemy lairs, and ensure the safety of the people,” Sobejana added. (SunStar Zamboanga)