Soldier killed, 3 wounded in BIFF attacks

SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines – A soldier was killed and three others were wounded when suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked two Army detachments at the border of Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provinces before dawn yesterday.

Capt. Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said BIFF bandits surrounded the detachments of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Kulasi, Gen. S.K. Pendatun town in Maguindanao and in Barangay Katiku in President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat before they opened fire with assault rifles and 40-millimeter grenade projectiles.

The gunmen retreated to a nearby marsh after soldiers retaliated with M-60 and K3 machine guns.

Petinglay refused to identify the slain and wounded soldiers pending notification of their families.

Members of the multi-sectoral municipal peace and order councils in Gen. S.K. Pendatun and in President Quirino said they have received reports that four BIFF bandits were killed while six others were wounded in the gunfight.

Petinglay described the attacks as part of the continuing efforts of the BIFF to spoil the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

“The 6th Infantry Division in coordination with the Philippine National Police will continue to work together to preempt the plans of the group,” she said. – With Jaime Laude