Military seizes 3 IEDs following Maguindanao clash with BIFF

Government forces believe they have foiled at least three bombing attacks following the recovery of three improvised explosive devices (IED) during a firefight with Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) forces in Maguindanao.

"The group is also bent to spoil the peace, hence, their possible intention is to disrupt the upcoming plebiscite through IED attacks which we don't want them to succeed," Major General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said Wednesday.

The occurred Wednesday morning when troops from 40th Infantry Battalion on a combat operation chanced upon several BIFF fighters in Sitio Landing Fish in Barangay Darampua in Sultan sa Barongis town.

No one was reported killed or injured on both sides, Sobejana said.

Sobejana said the three IEDs were fashioned from 81 mm mortar shells with triggering devices.

The BIFF, composed of former members of the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has claimed responsibility for the New Year's Eve bombing in Cotabato City that left two people dead and over 30 wounded. It has since allied itself with the smaller but more violent Abu Sayyaf group and pledged allegiance to ISIS.

Sobejana said the BIFF usually targets "urban centers here in Central Mindanao" for their bombing attacks.

The bombing took place even as the entire Mindanao is under martial law.

He also said the BIFF is out to spoil the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which will establish a new political entity in Mindanao as part of the 2014 peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

"We are doing proactive actions to thwart hostile plans of the terror group," Sobejana said. —KBK, GMA News