11 killed in fighting between MILF and Bangsamoro fighters: military

September 5, 2017

Around 11 were killed and one was wounded in an encounter between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao last Sunday.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, Army’s 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said based on the information they got from the MILF there were 10 BIFF members killed during the encounter.

The MILF said one of their members was killed and another one wounded.

However, Encinas said the military is validating the report about the fatalities on the members of the BIFF.

“As far as 6th ID is concerned, it is not validated because our source is the MILF, according to them there were 10 BIFF (killed) which is subject for validation,” he said.

Encinas said the clashes which include sporadic firefight occurred at the vicinity of Brgy. Tee in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

He said during the encounter the military also provided support against the BIFF.

“Although we have operations at the adjacent municipalities of Datu Salibo, we still support through our available assets, air assets and artillery assets,” Encinas said.

“We deploy forward observer. They are the one to give information on specific location of our targets. For the air and artillery assets, they are the one who provide the target position,” he noted.

Encinas said around 11 am Tuesday another encounter occurred in the same barangay but he did not have information on the matter. Robina Asido/DMS