4 BIFF men killed in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — Four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters were killed in a gunfight with soldiers who foiled an attempt by the militants to hoist a flag of the Islamic State in Sitio Narra, Barangay Masalay, Ampatuan town on Tuesday.

Sources from local communities identified the fatalities as Samir Guinta, Undak Kamarudin, Sangkay Guiabar and Mohammad Bantuas, who were led by Abu Ruzdak and a certain Diok.

Soldiers recovered improvised explosive devices along the bandits’ escape route.

Maj. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th Infantry Division commander, said farmers in Barangay Masalay and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members reported the convergence of the BIFF gunmen in the area.

The government and the MILF are bound by a ceasefire agreement, the 2012 Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro and 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro to cooperate in addressing security concerns in flashpoint areas in Mindanao.