A BANGSAMORO Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) leader, who was a bomb expert, was killed in a clash against government troops in the province of Maguindanao, military officials announced Monday, December 27, 2021.
Lieutenant General Alfredo Rosario, Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, identified the slain BIFF leader as Zukarno Guilil alias Commander Motorola of the BIFF’s 8th Division and acting chief-of-staff of the BIFF-Karialan faction.
Rosario said Guilil was killed in a clash Sunday morning in Ganta village, Shariff Saydona Mustapah, Maguindanao.
“The neutralization of one of the pillars of the BIFF is a positive development in the anti-terror campaign of the government in Central Mindanao. It also disrupted the bombing activities in the area,” Rosario said.
Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Banaag, 6th Infantry Battalion commander, said the clash broke out when the troops cornered the group of Guiling after concerned residents reported to them the presence of the BIFF rebels in Ganta village.
Banaag said the troops recovered two fragmentation grenades from the possession of Guilil.
Colonel Pedro Balisi, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander, said the death of Guilil gives justice to all victims of atrocities carried out by the BIFF.
“The lead given by the residents and the LGUs (Local Government Units) shows their desire to eliminate the presence of this terror group,” Balisi added.
He said Guilil is responsible for various attacks and bombings in Maguindanao.
The military official said Guilil has standing warrants of arrest for crimes of murder, multiple attempted murders, arson, and violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Major General Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Central commander, vowed to continue hunting down the remaining of the BIFF and Daulah Islamiyah terrorists who have been attacking communities in Central Mindanao for almost a decade.
“As part of the marching order of President Rodrigo Duterte, we are dedicated to putting an end to these terror groups,” Uy said. (SunStar Zamboanga)