TWO civilians were killed and three others wounded after the government-described terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters attacked a community in Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao Sunday.
Capt Arvin Encinas, Information Officer of the 6th Infantry Division, said the two civilian fatalities were fired at by BIFF rebels after failing to inflict casualties on army troopers who responded to protect beleaguered residents of Sitio Bagong of Barangay Timbangan.
Encinas said the identities of the slain two residents were not immediately available.
The wounded civilians were brought to the nearest hospital for treatment.
The killing occurred after a still undetermined numbers of BIFF rebel band attacked the civilian community, prompting army soldiers stationed in the vicinity to respond.
The BIFF attack sparked a firefight between troops of the 40th Infantry Battalion lasting for about 25 minutes.
As the fighting went on, the BIFF fired at the residential areas, killing the two civilians and wounding three more.
Security forces stationed in Maguindanao have launched a series of artillery fires against suspected BIFF encampment and prevent the outlawed group from harming civilian communities.
“We are [in] close contact with the affected families of the civilians to provide necessary assistance for them,” said Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, Commander of the 6th Infantry Division. With PNA
The BIFF was the first terrorist group to have pledge allegiance to the Islamic State sometime in 2012 following the designation of Abu Sayyaf Group chieftain Isnilon Hapilon as Emir of the international terror group in Southeast Asia.
Isnilon was eventually killed in Marawi City in the final stretch of intense fighting with security forces following an IS-inspired terror attack in the Islamic City last May 23.
In a related development, former President Fidel Ramos on Saturday urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to be “alert and watchful” in the government’s war on terror following the spate of attacks mounted by the New People’s Army on government forces in the past few weeks in various parts of the country.
“Our troops must always be alert of (sic) any attack, especially ambuscade by the NPA in any part of the country, including Metro Manila,” Ramos said in an exclusive interview with the Philippine News Agency in Camp Aguinaldo.
Ramos stressed that the military and police must be ready to protect President Rodrigo Duterte as commander-in-chief.
Ramos also expressed concern over the security situation in the country, after peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front bogged down.
The NPA’s recent atrocities, including the killing of a policeman who was shot 73 times and the NPA ambush in Sitio Camansi, Barangay Bolo, Maasin town in Iloilo, dismayed Duterte.
Peace talks between the government and the communist rebels have been on-and-off for more than a decade now with no peace accord reached.
Ramos said government forces must be on guard to thwart rebel attacks, especially with the onset of the Christmas season.
Last week, Duterte told security troops to shoot armed rebels even as an executive order was being prepared to proclaim them as terrorists.
The President has signed Proclamation No. 360 terminating peace negotiations with the NPA.
He told troops of the Philippine Army that he would not allow the military to be at a disadvantage in the war against the NPA, the CPP’s armed wing, which has been waging a protracted Maoist-type of revolutionary warfare for nearly five decades. With PNA