MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Seven members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed as soldiers used 105 Howitzer cannons to disperse around 80 militants in Barangay Kabasalan, Sultan sa Barongis town on Monday.
Local officials identified four of the fatalities only as Amir, Badrudin, Mutalib and Abdurahman, all followers of Imam Bongos.
Four others known only as Usman, Manduh, Guiadzuri and Anwar were wounded.
Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division said they conducted the operation after receiving reports from barangay officials on the presence of BIFF men.
“Some of them were carrying improvised explosive devices to be used against non-military targets,” Sobejana said.
Army units in Sultan sa Barongis and nearby towns could not confirm if Bongos was among the BIFF men spotted in Barangay Kabasalan.