BIFF sympathizers kill 2 soldiers at Maguindanao market

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Suspected sympathizers of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on Tuesday shot dead two soldiers at the public market of Buldon town.

Senior Inspector Acmad Sarico, chief of the Buldon municipal police, identified the slain soldiers as Cpl. Nerger Piñero and Pfc. Jamaneel Bulaybulay, members of Army’s 37th Infantry Battalion.

The two soldiers were buying something at a vending stall at the Buldon public market when two adolescents, speaking to each other in Iranon vernacular, casually approached them from behind, pulled out handguns from their waists and shot them in their heads.

The suspects took the M-16 rifle of Piñero before they ran away.

Sarico said the local government unit of Buldon is now helping locate the whereabouts of the gunmen.

Sarico said witnesses have identified the suspects, who are now subjects of a joint police and military manhunt.

He said investigators are now validating statements from villagers that the suspects are BIFF supporters.

More than a dozen BIFF bandits have been killed in a spate of encounters with Army and Marine combatants in Maguindanao that started last February 28.