Soldier killed, 2 villagers hurt by IEDs in Maguindanao
January 10, 2018 | 8:35am
An Army utility truck hit by an IED believed set up by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters on January 1, 2018.
John Unson, file
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — A soldier was killed and two villagers were hurt Tuesday in separate roadside bombings attributed to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
PFC Ian Chris Celeste of the 57th Infantry Battalion died on the spot from multiple shrapnel wounds.
In a report to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division Wednesday, the 601st Brigade said Celeste and companions were patrolling on a hill in Barangay Maitemaig in Datu Unsay town when a roadside bomb went off along their route.
The 57th IB, a unit of the 601st Brigade, has been in firefights with the Islamic State-inspired BIFF forces since December 25. The BIFF has been trying to dislodge indigenous Teduray villagers from Mount Firis.
Mount Firis has been the ancestral domain of upland Teduray farming communities for centuries.
The explosion that killed Celeste was preceded by a blast after dawn Tuesday along a stretch of a highway in Barangay Labu-Labu in Datu Hoffer that hurt two villagers.
The 601st Brigade said in its report to Maj. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, division commander, that the target of the bombing could be personnel of the Army’s 11th Mechanized Company, which patrols stretches of the thoroughfare in Datu Hoffer regularly.
Celeste was the second BIFF bombing fatality in a span of 10 days.
A police officer, SPO4 Max Kaibat, died from a roadside explosion on January 1 at the boundary of Maguindanao’s adjoining Shariff Aguak and Datu Hoffer towns.
Kaibat and five other members of the Shariff Aguak municipal police were on a vehicle for a security mission when an improvised explosive device went off along the road.
He died on the spot. All five of his companions are in hospitals for their injuries.
Maj. Gen. Dela Vega said the Army is expecting more BIFF attacks by the group to avenge militants killed in clashes with troops.
Senior members of the municipal peace and order councils of Maguindanao towns surrounding Mt. Firis said 11 BIFF gunmen were killed in a series of gunfights with pursuing soldiers on Saturday.
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