TAGUM CITY — The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters confirmed on Thursday that it suffered two casualties this week in two separate clashes with the rival forces of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
BIFF’s Spokesperson, Abu Misry Mama, in a phone interview Thursday, confirmed to DavaoToday that two of their BIFF fighters were killed after it traded shots with MILF on Monday and Wednesday at Barangay Kalbugan, Pagalungan in Maguindanao. Two were also wounded.
The MILF-BIFF skirmishes were also confirmed by the military stationed at Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
Captain Joan Petinglay, army’s 6th ID spokesperson, on Tuesday said a BIFF fighter was killed while two others were wounded in a gun battle with MILF forces in Barangay Kalbugan.
Petinglay said that 5:20 p.m on Monday the rival forces of MILF’s 108th Base Command led by Jack Abas and BIFF forces led by Gani Saligan traded shots in the remote village of Kalbugan in Maguindanao.
A new MILF-BIFF clash reportedly erupted Wednesday in the same area after BIFF forces intruded a village known to be a bailiwick of MILF ‘s Abas, according to Mama.
Mama claimed that Monday’s and Wednesday’s firefight with the MILF were meant to drive them out in their enclaves.
“North Cotabato Governor Lala Mendoza paid Jack Abas to drive out BIFF forces in our territory,” Mama alleged.
In a separate interview Wednesday, Mendoza said the MILF-BIFF clashes were a result of “personal grudge between Karialan and Abas about territory, guns and their members.”
“Ask the military, ask Abas. Huwag nila akong isali sa drama at away nila,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza claimed that BIFF has threatened her, saying “I heard of threats from BIFF. Well, it comes with the territory kasama sa trabaho ang dahil sa pulitika, namomolitika at napaka convenient para sa 2016 kung mapatay ang governor diba?”
On Monday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed that an operation is ongoing to hunt and capture Basit Usman, the alleged Filipino bomb maker linked to terrorist groups Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah. (davaotoday.com)
