P30-M equipment torched in BIFF attack

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines   – Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Sunday burned some P30 million worth of farm equipment at a banana plantation in Tulunan, North Cotabato.

BIFF bandits engaged security men of the Delinanas farm, a subsidiary of the multinational Del Monte fruit firm, in a three-hour firefight, said Senior Inspector Jojit Nicolas, chief of the municipal police.

As the guards and the bandits traded shots, another group of armed men poured kerosene on two backhoes, two hauler trucks, and a mechanized boom sprayer, before setting them on fire.

An unidentified bandit was killed in the encounter, according to Nicolas.

The bandits retreated after sensing the arrival of responding policemen and soldiers from a nearby detachment.

Two hours later, another group of BIFF bandits attacked a team of government militia in President Qurino town in Sultan Kudarat, about 20 kilometers southwest of Tulunan.

Though outnumbered, the members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit managed to retaliate and succeeded in driving the bandits away. No one was reported killed or wounded in the incident.

Abu Misry Mama, BIFF spokesperson, confirmed to journalists that their group was behind the attack at the banana farm in Tulunan town and the ambush in President Quirino.

Mama said the attacks were in retaliation for the arrest by the military of a Muslim farmer and his son, who are both BIFF supporters, in Datu Unsay, in Maguindanao more than a week ago.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said they would investigate Mama’s allegation.