Militiaman hurt in IED blast in Maguindanao town

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — A militiaman was slightly injured in an explosion Tuesday in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao.

Maj. Arvin Encinas, public affairs officer of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Wednesday the victim, Acob Mustapha, is a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit and is assigned in Guindulungan town in the second district of Maguindanao.

Reports reaching the 6th ID said Acob and his companions were patrolling in Barangay Macasampen when an improvised explosive device left inside an abandoned hut along their route went off.

Mustapha sustained shrapnel wounds in different parts of his body.

Responding police investigators said members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters may be behind the bombing.

Officials of 6th ID said the IED attack may be retaliation for the death of eight BIFF bomb-makers in an airstrike two weeks ago that flattened their hideouts at the nearby Liguasan Delta.