Military: 3 BIFF members dead, enemy lair found in separate ops

Three alleged members of a local terrorist group were killed in a gun battle with security forces, and an enemy lair was discovered in two separate operations in Maguindanao, the military said Sunday.

In a statement, Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of Western Mindanao Command, said troops of Joint Task Force Central were conducting focused military operations when they encountered over 10 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members under Muslimin Amilil, a.k.a. Mus of the 2nd Division of the Karialan Faction.

Vinluan said a gun battle erupted early Sunday morning in Sitio Proper, Barangay Linantangan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

Recovered from the operation were three cal. 45 handguns, two hand grenades, P1,000 cash, and eight grams of suspected shabu.

"Recovered cadavers and materials were brought to 1st Mechanized Battalion headquarters for identification, documentation, and proper disposition," the military said in a statement.

At about 4:30 p.m. an Saturday, the military also found an abandoned enemy lair in Sitio Tubak, Barangay Saniag, Ampatuan, which is believed to be of BIFF's.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Commander of Joint Task Force Central said the lair can accommodate at least 80-100 people. It has more or less 12 foxholes, three overhead bunkers, eight bunkers, three guard posts, and running trenches.

Retrieved were one bandoleer, four magazine pouches, one short magazine, one pressurized improvised explosive device, one pair of combat boots, one butane stove, backpack, pants, ICOM antenna, kettle, Quranic book, pail, iron stove stand, solar panel, whiteboard, and suspected IED components.

The items were sent to 92nd Infantry Battalion for proper disposition, the military said. —LBG, GMA News