MAGUINDANAO , Philippines — Three members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in an encounter with government troopers in Datu Montawal town in Maguindanao on Friday.
The fatalities were identified only as Monib, Bitong and Sanggutin.
Also killed was civilian Babai Masukat,who was hit in the crossfire.
Authorities said five other bandits, three of them identified by residents as Sanjid, Mundas and Dampil, and civilians Dangalo Dangwa and Serente Manginlas were wounded.
The military said the hostilities erupted when BIFF men, who arrived in pumpboats, fired at government troopers who responded to reports that armed men were sighted in a river in Barangay Tunggol.
The bandits, who were led by a certain Gapang Sapal, strafed houses on the riverbank as they fled toward Liguasan Delta.
Abdula Minola and Mohamid Kabimbian, who admitted that they are with the group of BIFF leader Abu Toraife, were arrested.
Toraife’s group was tagged in the bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Aug. 28 and Sept. 2. Five persons were killed and more than 40 others wounded in the incidents.