2 soldiers, BIFF leader slain in Maguindao clashes

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — An Army officer and a leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were among those killed as military offensives to flush out the bandits in Maguindanao entered the fifth day yesterday.

Second Lt. Junibert Zunio of the 40th Infantry Battalion was with a platoon who responded to reports that BIFF bandits were collecting food and money from farmers in Barangay Pidsandawan, Mamasapano when he was killed on Wednesday.

Another soldier, who has yet to be identified, was also reported killed in the skirmishes.

Marrox, a known BIFF bomb expert, and tagged in the Mamasapano clash in 2015 that left 44 members of the police Special Action Force dead, was also killed in the encounters later on Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Central commander, said BIFF men attacked soldiers conducting zoning operations in Barangay Dapiawan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan at about 6:55 a.m. yesterday.

“We are gaining ground so we are taking advantage of it,” Sobejana said.

Four  BIFF gunmen were killed in Mamasapano on Monday, four others in Datu Paglas on Tuesday and four of Marrox’s followers also in Mamasapano earlier on Wednesday.

The clashes started on Sunday when soldiers launched an offensive against BIFF men spotted in Barangay Pamanlian, Shariff Saydona Mustapha.

Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega of the Western Mindanao Command called on the bandits not only in Maguindanao but also in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat to lay down their arms.

Dela Vega said 18 BIFF men, including four bomb experts who surrendered from April to June, have been receiving socio-economic, education and other humanitarian assistance from the local government.