11 killed in BIFF attacks in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat —military

Eleven persons, including seven farmers, were killed after bandits claiming to have pledged allegiance to the terror group ISIS launched simultaneous attacks in the villages at the boundary of Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat on Thursday.

Lt. Col. Ricky Bunayog, the commanding officer of 33rd Infantry Battalion, said members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters led by a Kumander Sukarno Sapal attacked the battalion detachment  in Sitio Manilong, Barangay Banaba in Maguindanao at 3:45 a.m.

Bunayog said that while the firefight ensued in Barangay Banaba, other members of the BIFF attacked the villages of Paitan, Sagasa and Takal in Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.

The three villages are near the Sultan Kudarat's boundary with Maguindanao. where the first attack was launched.

In Barangay Paitan, two farmers—aged 52 and 25—were killed when the armed men passed through their farm. A woman and a boy were taken hostage as the BIFF members fled.

They were later released.

In Sitio Sabaduan, Barangay Kauran in Ampatuan town at 5 a.m.,  five farmers were killed when the BIFF members captured as they were about to spray pesticide in their rice field.

The victims reportedly pushed through with their farming despite warnings from government troops that they cancel their activities because of the tension and clashes in the nearby villages.

“They were shot one-by-one at point blank after they were capture”, Bunayog said.

Bunayog claimed that the 33rd IB troops killed four of the BIFF members during the clashes.

“Our information from the ground, they brought their slain comrades during the retreat, some of their weapons accessories were also left”, Bunayog told.

Chief Inspector Alma Almeda Ladera, chief of the PNP in Datu Abdullah Sangki town, said tension remained high on Thursday.

“ We monitored some residents have evacuated but has no data yet on exact numbers, we remain vigilant and closely coordinating”, with local officials, the lady police chief said.

BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama admitted the group's role in the attacks as part of its Jihad.

Mama, however, said that they killed CAFGU members and not civilian farmers as claimed by the military. —NB, GMA News