AFP: Govt troops engage BIFF in Maguindanao

Government troops engaged the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in another encounter in Maguindanao before noon Friday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

 

AFP public affairs unit head Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc cited initial information reaching him indicating the fighting started at about 11:30 a.m.

 

"I can confirm nagkaroon ng engkwentro (ang government troops) at BIFF sa Datu Unsay (Maguindanao)," he told anchors Melo del Prado and Orly Trinidad on dzBB's Super Balita sa Tanghali.

 

He said the government troops include members of the Marines.

 

As of 12:30 p.m., Cabunoc said there have been no reports of casualties from either side.

 

Cabunoc also said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is helping the government by sharing relevant information on the BIFF.

 

"Nagpahayag ang leadership ng MILF, tuloy-tuloy ang pag-share ng information bilang pakita ng suporta sa laban ng pamahalaan sa terorismo at lawlessness," he said.

 

The military is conducting an all-out offensive against the BIFF, which had been tagged in recent attacks in parts of Mindanao.

 

The BIFF is a splinter group of the MILF, which is engaged in peace efforts with the government.

All-out offensive

On Wednesday, Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang ordered an all-out offensive against the BIFF.

Catapang issued his order amid fighting between the MILF and BIFF, which broke out in Pagalungan town in Maguindanao about two weeks ago due to rido or clan war, displacing about 10,000 residents in the town and in nearby Pikit town in Cotabato.

It also came a month after the bloody clash between elite PNP-Special Action Force commandos and MILF and BIFF combatants in Mamasapano in Maguindanao. Over 60 peopled died in the clash, including 44 police officers and 18 MILF fighters.

In response to Catapang's order, the BIFF even taunted government troops into stopping all talk and instead, start the war against the outlawed group.