9 BIFF men killed in Maguindanao clash

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines  —  Nine members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in an encounter with soldiers in Shariff Saidona Mustapha town on Monday.

Barangay officials identified seven of the fatalities as Abdul Mosaiden, Mohammad Sakar, Hamid Ekal, Maula Samad, Esmail Kagui Malang, Muner Akbal and Musanep Kabelan, all ethnic Maguindanaons.

The two other fatalities were identified by other sources only as Arum and Kused.

The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said soldiers of the 6th Infantry Division (ID) conducted the operation.

The military said the slain bandits were followers of Abu Toraife, the leader of one of the three factions of the BIFF. The group uses the flag of the Islamic State as its banner.

Last Friday, six BIFF men, four of them identified only as Oman, Andok, Taleng and Kasim were killed in clashes with soldiers.

The Westmincom said pursuit operations for the BIFF bandits along the Liguasan Delta were coordinated with the ceasefire committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Lt. Col. Roberto Breboneria, spokesman for the 6th ID, said the military offensive targets the perpetrators of bombings in Central Mindanao.

Prior to the offensive, Breboneria said villagers confirmed the presence of BIFF men carrying improvised bombs.

Authorities said the bomb attacks were in retaliation for the death of BIFF bandits in military operations.