BIFF bandit slain in Maguindanao clash

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — A member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) tagged in the killing of a soldier in Radjah Buayan town was slain in an encounter on Friday.

Sainudin Nilong died in a clash with personnel of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tabungao.

Nilong, said to be a BIFF bomb maker, was one of the two suspects in the ambush of Pfc. Jerome Tahad.

Tahad and his colleagues were on their way to their command post after manning a quarantine checkpoint when they were attacked.

In a report to Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon of the 6th Infantry Division, the 33rd IB said improvised explosive devices, bomb materials and ammunition were recovered from Nilong’s hideout.