Fighting erupted anew between Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and army troopers after the local terrorist group launched two successive attacks on a military detachment in Maguindanao Friday night.
Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the fighting, which lasted for a few minutes, took place at Sitio Baging, Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.
Encinas said that the BIFF attempted to inflict damages to the troops by launching two attacks at an army detachment of the 40th Infantry Battalion at about 7:45 p.m.
The first attacks occurred when BIFF fighters threw a grenade which exploded near the entrance of the army post, forcing soldiers manning it take defensive positions.
“A soldier was slightly wounded sustaining a bruise on his jaw,” Encinas said.
A few minutes later, the BIFF threw an M203 grenade at the same army post, hitting the back portion of the detachment which prompted the soldiers to fire back in retaliation.
“After 20 minutes, an M203 grenade was fired landing at the back of the 40th IB,” Encinas said even as he said that the number of BIFF attackers was not so big.
After the incident, artillery fires from 105mm howitzer were directed at the BIFF’s suspected lairs.
Encinas said the BIFF attack at the 40th IB post was in retaliation of the reported casualties the BIFF which it suffered during heavy artillery fires on the rebels’ position in the recent clash in the two towns of North Cotabato.
The incident in Shariff Aguak was the second military confrontation against BIFF fighters since last week.