Ten members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a rebel fighter from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front were killed and several others were wounded from both sides after the two rebel factions figured in intense fighting at the outskirts of Datu Salibo, Maguindanao in the past three days, the military said, quoting a report from MILF officials.
Capt. Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the killing of the BIFF rebels were reported by the MILF whose forces directly figured in the firefight against the BIFF rebels at Sitio Gagadi, Brgy. Tee in Salibo town since Sunday.
“It was the MILF who reported the killing of BIFF members as the MILF were the ones involved in the fighting,” said Encinas, who added that they are still validating the reports.
In a report by the MILF’s Task Force Etihad to military and police authorities in Maguindanao, they identified their slain fighter as Jojo Sampayan. Two other MILF fighters were also wounded during the clash.
The fighting started after the MILF spotted a rebel contingent from the Islamic State-inspired BIFF forces under Abdul Malik massing in the perimeter of the MILF’s controlled area in Salibo town.
Reports said MILF forces under Task Force Etihad immediately positioned themselves in anticipation of the BIFF’s movement. Minutes later, fierce fighting sparked between the two sides.
While the clash was ongoing, the BIFF positions were met by military artillery fires forcing the IS-inspired forces to withdraw.
The BIFF scampered to different directions, but after a couple of hours, fighting broke anew which lasted for two hours leaving scores of dead from the BIFF side.
Capt Encinas said the killing of the 10 BIFF rebels as reported by the MILF was the result of a series of sporadic fighting in Datu Salibo villages.
He said another firefight broke out Tuesday morning and is still raging at press time, but he declined to provide any information relating to potential casualties on both sides.
Encinas said there were large concentration of BIFF rebels in separate fighting between the MILF in another area in Brgy. Tee.
The military is extensively monitoring the security situation in the boundaries of Butig, Lanao del Sur and Buldon, Maguindanao to prevent any reinforcement from IS-inspired militants which could affect the peace and order in the region in case wide scale fighting erupts similar to the Marawi siege.
At least 800 people have already been killed in the 106 days of fighting in Marawi City between local IS fighters and security forces following an attack by the Maute group in the Islamic City.