MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in a gunfight with soldiers in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in this province on Tuesday.
The fatalities were identified only as Duma, Yunos, Mobin and Kused.
The military said the BIFF men shot soldiers of the 40th Infantry Battalion who were deployed in Barangay Nabundas to check the presence of BIFF leaders Zainuddin Kiaro, Noel Ganoy and Muslimin Amilil. The bandits were reportedly extorting money and food from farmers.
Two other bandits, a certain Lucman and Abusama, were wounded.
Soldiers recovered two rifles, a grenade launcher, anti-tank rockets and improvised bombs at the scene.