5 militants killed, 6 others injured in Maguindanao airstrike

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Five Islamic State-inspired militants were reportedly killed while six others were injured as attack helicopters fired rockets on their lair in S.K. Pendatun town Tuesday.

Local officials on Wednesday confirmed the fatalities in the airstrike, meant to flush out from S.K. Pendatun town in the second district of Maguindanao some 30 militants loyal to Abu Toraife, leader of one of three factions in the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

All three BIFF factions are displaying the Islamic State flag in their camps.

Sources from the local government unit of S.K. Pendatun, among them Anwar Dimaukom, LGU planning officer, told radio stations in Cotabato City on Wednesday morning that three of those killed in the bombardment could be civilians.

Captain Arvin Encinas, public affairs chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said they would have the issue investigated.

Encinas said informants, among them vigilant barangay residens, have corroborated reports by Army officials in the area that the men killed in the aerial offensive were BIFF bandits.

Text messages have also been spreading around since Tuesday night purporting that six other BIFF gunmen were injured in the attack, three of them adolescents identified only as Mantato, Tahir and Sumablao.