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29 bodies from Maguindanao clash site brought to AFP camp


At least 29 bodies of elite police officers who were killed in a clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been brought to the military headquarters at Camp Siongco in Maguindanao.
 
According to GMA Super Radyo DZBB reporter Rod Vega, the bodies were immediately brought to the military camp's laboratory for autopsy and proper identification.
 
The report said more bodies will be brought to the camp within the day as the joint extraction operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues.
 
The PNP Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in a separate report of DZBB, has confirmed that there were already 34 bodies retrieved from the encounter site.
 
Meanwhile, 11 police officers were reported injured from the clash.
 
In a separate report of GMA News TV's “News To Go” PNP-ARMM director Senior Superintendent Noel Armilla, said the number of fatalities had already risen to 50.
 
However, in a DZBB interview, Armilla clarified that it was not yet confirmed if all the 50 fatalities belonged to the police force.
 
Armilla also said that the ARMM police was still confirming reports of more police officers taken away as hostages by the rebel groups.
 
On Sunday, operatives from the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) figured in a day-long firefight with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which was later joined by the MILF splinter group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). The incident happened in Barangay. Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
 
MILF chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, had earlier claimed that the SAF operatives did not coordinate with the MILF before conducting the operation. Iqbal also said the SAF men were the first ones to engage the MILF troops in a firefight.
 
The PNP-SAF reportedly launched the operation in order to serve an arrest warrant against Jemaah Islamiyah leader Zulkifli bin Hir also known as Commander Marwan whose presence has been confirmed in the area. —Elizabeth Marcelo/NB, GMA News
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