2 soldiers, 9 BIFF men slain in Maguindanao clash

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Two soldiers and nine members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed in an encounter in Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao on Wednesday.

The incident also left 13 soldiers wounded, according to the 6th Infantry Division.

The military said Pfcs. Jovit Sarno and Raymond Canlog of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion died in the clash in Barangay Penditen.

Local officials and barangay elders identified the slain BIFF bandits as Salim Bandas, Samir Pendi, Abubakar Andig, Kamarudin Hassan, Asmad Katib, Odin Tantung, Baseer Bader, Tumagantang Romado and a certain Anggutin.

Lt. Col. Anhouvic Atilano, 6th Civil Military Operations Battalion commander, said the soldiers were deployed in the area to check the reported presence of around 100 armed men led by Hassan Indal.

Local leaders said Indal and his henchmen plotted attacks on checkpoints in Central Mindanao.

Two soldiers, a militiaman and a police officer have been killed, also by BIFF or Dawlah Islamiya members, while enforcing quarantine protocols in neighboring Datu Hoffer, Radjah Buayan and Shariff Aguak towns as well as in Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat.