Military launches air, artillery assault vs. 'more or less' 10 BIFF members in Maguindanao

The military launched air and artillery assault against members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, early Wednesday.

Captain Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, told radio dzBB that the assault was conducted after troops received a report from civilians in Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak town and Barangay Meta in Datu Unsay town about the prense of armed BIFF members.

Encinas said that based on the information received by the military, the civilians spotted more or less 10 armed BIFF members.

The military had said that the BIFF has a tactical alliance with the Islamic State-linked local terror group headed by the Maute brothers, based in Lanao provinces.

The Maute group launched an attack last May, which prompted President Duterte's declaration of martial law in Mindanao. The city has been freed from the terror group.

A report by GMA News' Garry Fuerzas said that offensive was launched at around 3:30 a.m.

The report said the military initially fired 105mm Howitzer cannons at the reported position of the BIFF bandits.

At around 5:20 a.m., the military bombarded the area with MG-520 attach helicopters.

Encinas said they have yet to determine if there were casualties from the BIFF group, headed by a certain Kumander Bungos, as clearing operations were ongoing as of this posting. —ALG, GMA News