3 BIFF members, 1 villager killed in Maguindanao encounter

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Three Islamic State-inspired militants and an innocent civilian were killed while seven others were wounded in gunfights Friday in Datu Montawal town in Maguindanao.

The hostilities erupted when members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters opened fire on soldiers and militiamen who tried to stop their pumpboats while in a river in Barangay Tunggol in Datu Montawal.

Personnel of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion and members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit captured two BIFF members — Abdula Minola and Mohamid Kabimbi — while fleeing after they ran out of ammunition.

Minola and Kabimbian readily confessed to their membership in the BIFF under the radical cleric Abu Toraife, whose real name is Esmael Abdulmalik.

Abu Toraife is leader of one of three factions in the BIFF, all operating in the fashion of the Islamic State.

His group was tagged as behind the August 28 and September 2 bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat that killed five and injured more than 40 others.

The retreating BIFF militants, led by Commander Gapang Sapal, fired at houses along the riverbanks in Barangay Tunggol to create a diversion, killing a villager, Babai Masukat and wounding two others, Dangalo Dangwa and Serente Manginlas.

Barangay residents have confirmed that three followers of Sapal, identified only as Monib, Bitong and Sanggutin, were killed in the encounter that left five other militants badly wounded.

Col. Alfredo Rosario of the Army’s 602nd Brigade said Saturday credit for the prompt interception of the BIFF bandits should go to vigilant Datu Montawal residents who reported seeing them on board pumpboats proceeding to a riverside village in Barangay Tunggol.

Rosario said they have received reports that Sapal and his men have fled to the nearby Liguasan Delta bringing with them their three dead and five wounded companions.

Barrio residents have identified three of the five wounded BIFF gunmen as Sanjid, Mundas and Dampil, all ethnic Maguindanaons.