SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao --- Government forces discovered
last February 27 a hideout of the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao and seized explosives and bomb-making
components in the area.
Acting
on a tip from civilians that confirmed Army intelligence information about the
presence of BIFF bomb makers in the marshland of Maguindanao, the Army’s 57th Infantry
Battalion said it immediately conducted law enforcement operations in an area
bordering the towns of Mamasapano, Datu Salibo, Shariff Aguak, Datu Saydona
Mustapha, and Saudi Ampatuan early Thursday (February 27) morning.
According
to the 57the IB, a brief firefight ensued after the BIFF opened fire on
approaching lawmen at 6 a.m. at the periphery of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town,
but the rebels quickly fled deep into the marshland, leaving behind their
bomb-making materials and complete explosives.
Lt.
Col. Edwin R. Alburo, 57th IB commander, said the troops found eight improvised
hand grenades, roadside improvised bombs, eight live hand grenades, bomb-making
components such as black powder, cut nails, cut metals, switchboard, electrical
wiring, and ammonium nitrate and documents at the BIFF hide-out.
“A
well-coordinated operation led to the recovery of high explosive materials and
eventually foiled bombing plots by the BIFF,” Alburo said in a statement.
He
added that the IEDs are ready for deployment by the BIFF but the military could
not say where and when it would be brought by the radicals.
Col.
Jose H. Narciso, 601st Infantry Brigade commander, lauded the 57th IB troopers
and vowed there will be no let-up in the manhunt against BIFF elements
"who sow fear in civilian communities through violent extremism."
The
601st IBde is based in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. (EDWIN FERNANDEZ & NOEL
PUNZALAN, PNA - COTABATO, MINDANAO EXPOSE')
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