Bomb-maker killed in Maguindanao clash

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Guerillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front shot dead a bomb-maker in an encounter Thursday in the hostile Mamasapano town in Maguindanao.

Local officials and units of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division in Mamapasano, located in the second district of Maguindanao, confirmed on Friday the death of Saudi Sabang in the gunfight.

Sabang, reportedly trained in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices by the slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, most known as “Marwan,” belonged to the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, or BIFF.

Two of Sabang’s companion, Aktab Musib and Kadun Sanuy, were also wounded in the incident.

The group, operating in the fashion of the Islamic State, has been trying to sabotage the now 20-year peace process between the government and the MILF. 

Reports reaching the office of Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of 6th ID, indicated that the skirmishes on Thursday in Barangay Pimbalakan in Mamasapano involved local MILF guerillas and the group of BIFF Commander Zainudin Kiaro.

Barangay leaders said the encounter erupted when BIFF gunmen attacked MILF guerillas marching towards Sitio Makalag in Barangay Pimbalakan to check on the reported convergence there of gunmen displaying a black Islamic State flag.  

The MILF and the government are bound by a 1997 interim ceasefire pact to mutually cooperate in addressing peace and security issues permeating in any conflict-flashpoint area in southern provinces.

The MILF lost 17 guerillas in a two-month campaign last year against BIFF terrorists in Maguindanao’s adjoining Datu Salibo, Shariff Saidona Mustapha and Datu Piang towns.

No fewer than 30 BIFF gunmen perished in the MILF offensive that also forced leaders of the terrorist group, eloquent in stoking hatred for non-Muslims, to retreat deeper into the nearby Liguasan Delta, a common lair of IS-inspired blocs and criminal gangs.