MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Seven Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas and four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in an encounter in Shariff Saidona town in this province on Friday.
The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police identified the fatalities as Manaut Musbil, Mads Maytum, Tongan Tot, Laguiali Ali, Poangan Ganda, Kho Mamaluba and Jeomar Salansamen.
Sources said the slain BIFF bandits, who were not immediately identified, were with the faction led by Esmael Abdulmalik, also known as Abu Toraife.
The encounter occurred in Sitio Tinolusan in Barangay Dasawao, village chief Abdulracman Kanda told reporters yesterday.
MILF fighters were seen carrying the bodies of their slain comrades, according to villagers.
The MILF is helping the government in its campaign against BIFF bandits in keeping with the 2012 Bangsamoro framework agreement and 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. The accords enjoin mutual cooperation to maintain peace and order in conflict areas in Mindanao.
The BIFF has been tagged in a series of bombings in Central Mindanao since 2011.