A government trooper was killed by ‘‘friendly fire’’ following a ‘‘bomb’’ run directed at the location of a Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters camp in Maguindanao.
Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division commander Major General Cirilito Sobejana rued the incident, but said they would still continue with the airstrike against suspected BIFF rebels.
“Namatayan na kami ng isa, pero tuloy tuloy pa rin ‘yung exchange of fire,” Sobejana told reporters on Monday.
“Nag-start ng airstrike kanina early morning. Tapos ground maneuver, airstrike, artillery, mortar, then ground maneuver. During the ground maneuver nandoon, medyo tinamaan ‘yung tropa natin. Okay lang, that’s part of our job,” he added.
Despite the ongoing airstrikes, the BIFF, however, did not suffer any casualty according to Captain Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division.
“As of this time, wala pang reported na mga casualties. Kasalukuyan ginagawa nila ang clearing operations to determine kung meron nga talagang casualty as far as ‘yung ginawang air and artillery fire mission,” he said.
Encinas said the soldiers are conducting pursuit operatioins against the armed group.
BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama said the military offensive started over the weekend with howitzer fires in the towns of Mamasapano and Datu Piang, but said that the military was targeting “Moro communities.”