Woman killed, 2 hurt as military pounds BIFF stronghold in Pikit

COTABATO CITY — An old woman was reportedly killed while two others — an old man and a Grade 5 student — were hurt as the military conducted air and ground assault before dawn Thursday against suspected terrorists in the area.

Major Homer Estolas, spokesman for the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said the military is still verifying the information and investigating if the injured civilian was connected with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the target of the assault in Pikit.

"Kino-confirm pa namin 'yun kung ano 'yung links... kung ano ang relation nung civilian na natamaan doon sa area kasi ang pinapaimbestigahan nga namin bakit nandoon siya sa area," Estolas said, noting that the area is a known BIFF stronghold.

He said the military had received reports that 20 to 30 BIFF members under the Bungos faction were in the area.

"Ang kino-confirm namin, vina-validate, is the relationship niya doon sa BIFF group kung baka siya ay relative or wife o anak kasi ang ano nga doon bakit nandoon siya," he added.

Initial reports identified the slain old woman as Misba Masla. The other casualty was reportedly her husband.

According to Estolas, authorities are still verifying if the senior citizen was really killed. "Kino-confirm pa namin kung namatay o ano," he said.

Abu Misry Mama, BIFF spokesperson, denied that BIFF members were in the area and instead hit the military for hurting civilians.

"How could they say in public that they are protecting civilians when in fact, very obvious that they bombed the house of an old woman?” he stressed over a phone interview.

Clearing operations was ongoing as of posting time, Estolas added. —Anna Felicia Bajo and Ferdinandh Cabrera/KBK, GMA News