Padilla: BIFF attack in Cotabato opportunistic, retaliatory move  

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday said the recent attack by Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on Pigcawayan in Cotabato province was an "opportunistic" move. 

AFP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr. told dzBB on Saturday that the attack was "opportunistic" as the BIFF targeted a "least-defended" area.

"Ang atin pong assessment diyan sa nangyari sa Pigcawayan ay isang opportunistic attack ... dahil may dalawang linggo na po silang talunan sa mga isinasagawa nating opensiba laban sa grupo nila." 

On Wednesday, some 300 BIFF rebels briefly took control of Barangay Malagakit Elementary School and launched attacks on a Barangay People's Augmentation Team outpost in Barangay Malagakit and a Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit detachment in Barangay Simsiman.

Padilla said government troops immediately contained the situation.

"Nang may nalaman tayong pagtatangka ng pagatake sa ating mga kampo, naging alerto na po ang ating mga outpost, lahat ng ating mga units," Padilla said.

According to him, the bandits might have thought that security forces were "distracted" by the drawn-out war to liberate Marawi City from the ISIS-influenced terrorists led by the Maute group.

"Dahil sa talunan sila, ang nakikita namin, minabuti nila na gumanti...," Padilla said.

"Manipis ang depensa diyan (Pigcawayan town) pero mabilis naman pong nakatugon ang atin ibang military units," he added.

Meanwhile, Padilla said that the attack in Cotabato was not related to the situation in Marawi City.

"Wala po eh, sa assessment natin ay talagang walang kaugnayan ito sa Marawi at kung saka sakaling may kaugnayan ito ay hindi naman dapat nila ginagawa itong mga pag-atake na ito." 

He also discounted the possibility of the bandit group launching an attack in Metro Manila.

On the other hand, Major General Arnel Delavega, commander  of the Joint Task  Force Central, earlier said that troops rescued 31 civilians taken hostage by the BIFF and 32 more residents hiding out in their houses.

Also, he said the 63 rescued civilians were brought to the Battalion Tactical Post of the 34th Infantry Battalion for proper disposition.

"At around 6:29 p.m. on June 21, Barangay Malagakit was cleared of the presence of BIFF  bandits," said Delavega.

Two members of the BIFF were arrested at a checkpoint in Maguindanao. They were identified as Jahren Mantukay, 23; and Bardurin Limba, 28; both residents of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao. —LBG, GMA News