A bomb prematurely went off Tuesday night near a convenient store at Barangay Poblacion, Pikit town, North Cotabato apparently killing the two alleged bombers carrying the explosives while onboard a motorcycle, a military spokesperson said.
According to MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, the clash was triggered by lack of coordination on the SAF operation.
The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) confirmed that it killed at least 15 out of the 45 members of the elite Philippine National Police Special Action Forces in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao on early dawn Sunday.
Muslims across Mindanao condemned as blasphemous the cover of the controversial French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo showing a weeping prophet Muhammad holding up a sign saying “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”).
Human rights group Karapatan said there are 491 political prisoners in the country, 220 of whom were arrested under the Aquino administration.