Two alleged high-ranking leaders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction (BIFF-KF) and 10 others were killed in a gun fight in Barangay Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday, April 22, 2024.

The military identified the slain leaders as Mohiden Animbang and his brother Saga Animbang, chairman and operation chief of the BIFF-KF, respectively.

Authorities have yet to identify the 10 BIFF-KF members killed during the military operation.

Troops of the the 1st Brigade Combat Team (1BCT), 1st Scout Ranger Company of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion, and Scout Platoon of CAT 92 and 99 launched a military operation when they engaged at least 15 elements of the BIFF-KF in a firefight that started around 7:30 a.m.

Seized during the operation were five M16A1 rifles, three M14 rifles, two M653, an M4, and another high-powered gun.

The military said the group’s training officer and chief of staff, Abu Halil and his brother Khadafi Abdulatif, were killed last March 22, 2024.

Major General Alex Rillera, commander of the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) and Joint Task Force Central, said the BIFF-KF refused to return to the folds of the law and lay down their arms.

“Mas nangingibabaw ang tungkulin ng inyong kasundaluhan na proteksyonan ang ating mamamayan laban sa paghahasik ng karahasan ng mga teroristang grupo, bagay na napilitan tayo na gamitan ng pwersa ang mga ito upang tuluyang matuldukan ang terorismo dito sa ating lugar,” Rillera said.

“Aking binabati ang ating mga tropa sa 1BCT at iba pang mga operating units, bagaman at may pito tayong mga kasundaluhan na nasugatan sa labang ito, ating kinikilala ang kanilang kabayanihan sa pagtatanggol sa bayan. Isang napakalaking tagumpay ang ating nagawa sa pagbura ng BIFF-KF sa hanay ng mga teroristang pangkat,” Rillera added.