MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Saidona Mustapha town on Tuesday.
Barangay elders and local officials identified the fatalities as Akmad Sindi, Raguiab Bansao, Ameruddin Bunao and Gamino Orai.
A certain Gadoh and an alias Tasil were reportedly wounded in the clash.
Reports reaching Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat showed that the bandits carried the bodies of their comrades as they escaped.
The military said the gunfight erupted when the BIFF men fired at personnel of the 40th Infantry Battalion who were patrolling Barangay Inaladan.
Soldiers recovered four rifles from the fatalities and improvised exlosive devices along the bandits’ escape route.