1 soldier killed, 5 others hurt in BIFF bomb attacks in Maguidnanao

COTABATO CITY -– A soldier was killed while five of his
companions were injured in yet another improvised bomb blast by outlawed Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, the Army today said.The slain soldier, belonging to the 57th Infantry battalion,
was among a group of soldiers conducting clearing operations in a remote
village of Datu Salibo when suspected BIFF set off a cellphone detonated bomb
Saturday morning.

The 57th IB is one of the two battalions surrounding
BIFF lairs in the so called SPMS box” or the adjoining towns of Shariff Aguak,
Pagatin (Datu Piang), Mamasapano and Salibo.

Lt. Col. Jose Rustia, 57th Infantry Battalion commander, said identified
as PFC Jury Catalan who sustained shrapnel injuries and died while being
brought to Camp Siongco Hospital.

Injured were S/Sgt. Renante Bolivar, S/Sgt. Danilo Mondejar, PFC
Raymundo Madis, PFC Von Chakie Viaje, and PFC Romnick Herminado.

Capt. Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry
Division, said the soldiers have entered the perimeter of BIFF bailiwick in Barangay
Tee where the BIFF planted several booby traps.

Military sources said more than 100 IEDs have been recovered in
the perimeter of BIFF territory in the villages of Tea and Sambolawan, all in
Datu Salibo since last week following air and ground assaults.

To date, three soldiers have been killed since the fighting
began on Feb. 5 after the BIFF torched construction equipment working on flood
control dredging project in Barangay Butalo.
At least 17 other soldiers were slightly wounded, including an Army
captain.

Military sources said more than 30 BIFF have been killed both in
air and ground offensives but admitted it is being validated as no bodies of
slain bandits have been recovered.

Petinglay said despite the danger of booby traps, the Army will continue
clearing operations to capture the BIFF lair and allow the continuation of
flood control project.

The BIFF camp is located in Maguindanao marshland which has been
dried up due to drought.

Petinglay said the BIFF has been using roadside bombs to divert military
operations in Datu Salibo. Two improvised
bombs went off near the national highway in Aleosan, North Cotabato on
Saturday.

They have brought the war zone to civilian areas,” Petinglay
said even as she appealed for people’s vigilance. The roadside bombings blamed by the military
to the outlawed group also claimed the lives of civilians in Datu Saudi
Ampatuan that killed Datu Salibo town treasurer and three others.

Abu Misri Mama, BIFF spokesperson, said his fighters have lied
low because they were tired. Once we have recovered, we will strike again,” he said by phone in the vernacular.

Datu Salibo had been quiet Sunday but the displaced families,
number about 2,500, remained in evacuation centers.

Aside from roadside bombings, the BIFF also shifted to
deployment of fake IED like the one found in Datu Saudi Ampatuan highway on
Friday.

A look-alike IED was seen by motorists behind the highway, forcing
police to close the lone road network to motorists for about an hour.

Mama denied his group was behind the roadside bombings but
admitted his group attacked a militia detachment in Aleosan town, a town next
to Datu Salibo in the borders of North Cotabato and Maguindanao.

Nobody was hurt in
that incident.