Duterte to visit Cotabato City after clash between troops, BIFF

President Rodrigo Duterte will go to Cotabato City Tuesday in the aftermath of the clash between government soldiers and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) over the weekend, the Palace announced.

"Mamaya tutungo po sa Cotabato ang Presidente (The President will go to Cotabato today)," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with state-run PTV-4.

"Ang mensahe po ay kailangan ipatupad ang batas. Hindi puwede ang paggamit ng dahas sa kapwa Filipino. Gagamitin po ng Presidente ang buong pwersa ng gobyerno para supilin ang paggamit ng dahas," he added.

(The message is rule of law should prevail. Violence cannot be committed against fellow Filipinos. The President will use the entire government force to stop violence.)

The firefight erupted between state forces and BIFF in the municipality of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao early May 8.

Reports have it that around 100 members of the BIFF occupied the town center of Datu Paglas and this was confirmed by Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division spokesperson Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar.

Since then, the military have cleared the area of the rebels.

The military identified the leader of the armed group as Mohiden Animbang, alias Karialan, who was reportedly involved in IED (improvised explosive device) attacks in Datu Saudi Ampatuan last March 2021 which left two people dead and two others wounded.—AOL, GMA News