4 BIFF bandits killed in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY , Philippines – Four alleged members of the Dawlah Islamiya or Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in a shootout with police officers in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao on Wednesday.

Police said Rahib Lumenda Esmail, Prati Kuludan, Arsad Ukom Utto and Alifmer Talimbu were with the group of BIFF leader Imam Karialan, who is wanted for recent bombings in Central Mindanao.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police said the suspects, who were in a multicab, refused to pull over at a checkpoint in Barangay Timbangan and fired at police officers led by Maj. Erwin Tabora.

Firearms and bomb materials were reportedly recovered from the vehicle of the fatalities.