Soldier killed, 2 hurt in roadside bombings

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — A soldier was killed and two civilians were wounded in recent roadside bombings perpetrated by members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in this province.

Pfc. Ian Chris Celeste  of the 57th Infantry Battalion (IB) died at the scene.

Celeste and several other soldiers were patrolling an area in Barangay Maitemaig near Mt. Firis in Datu Unsay on Tuesday when a roadside bomb went off, a report received by the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) yesterday showed.

The explosion that left two villagers wounded occurred along the highway in Barangay Labu-Labu in Datu Hoffer.

Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th ID commander, said personnel of the Army’s 11th Mechanized Company patrolling major roads in Datu Hoffer could have been the target of the bomb attack. 

Celeste is the second government trooper killed in recent BIFF bombings.

Senior Police Officer 4 Max Kaibat died in another roadside bombing at the border of Shariff Aguak and Datu Hoffer towns on Jan. 1.

Kaibat was with a group of Shariff Aguak police officers checking the reported sighting of BIFF men when the bomb exploded.

Five police officers were wounded and remained confined in a hospital.

Two civilians died and 16 other persons were wounded when a bomb left in a tricycle went off in Barangay Buenaflor, Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat on the same day.

Meanwhile, soldiers foiled an attempt of BIFF gunmen to harass residents of Barangay Sambulawan, Datu Salibo on Tuesday.

Dela Vega said soldiers of the 57th IB fired a 60mm mortar shell on the position of the bandits.