Army assaults BIFF lair, seizes gun factory in Maguindanao

PRES. QUIRINO, Sultan Kudarat -- Combined elements of the Army and police commandos seized a terrorist firearms factory after storming the notorious lair of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters inBarangay Tonggol, Gen. SK Pendatun, MaguindanaoMaguindanao early morning Tuesday.Lt Col Harold M Cabunoc, the Commanding Officer of the 33rdInfantry(Makabayan) Battalion, said that the target of the operations was the firearms factory of the terrorists in the area. We specifically targeted the firearms manufacturing capability of the BIFF. It is part of our ongoing efforts in degrading their firepower as we pressure them to surrender, Cabunoc said.The security forces seized a gunsmithing machine, two Rocket Propelled Grenades Launchers,a Cal .45 M1-911 pistol, a 12-gauge Shotgun, rifle grenades, unfinished home-made guns, and assorted ammunitions. Fifteen people were held for questioning but they were promptly released to the local government officials. Combined arms operations Synchronizing different capabilities, the operation was participated in by different units of the Army such as the 1stMechanized Infantry Battalion and the 7thField Artillery Battalion. To keep our winning edge against a highly adaptive enemy in a complex environment, we employed different capabilities to maximize combined arms effects. The synergized effort enables the police commandos to serve the warrants against the suspects, Cabunoc said.Lt Col Lauro Oliveros, the commanding officer of the 1stMechanized Battalion said that his unit is harnessing its ability to provide maximum support to the maneuvering troops. Our armored vehicles provide protection to the infantry during the assault on the houses which are located within a civilian community. The sight of the roaring heavily armed armored vehicles serve as deterrence against the terrorists who mingle with civilians, Oliveros said.Protected by the artillery assets, police commandos executed the raid on the specific houses that are identified by informants.The suspects fled in disarray, leaving behind some weapons and war materiel. With artillery support behind us, we gained the confidence to execute the mission alongside our Army counterparts. The artillery had served as stern warning against those who dare to join the fray, said Police Superintendent Darwin Padla, the Battalion Commander of the 4thSpecial Action Battalion who participated in the operations.Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of the 6thInfantry Division has commended the troops for the successful mission. You have accomplished the mission without any unnecessary casualties. Continue putting on the pressure against the remnants of the BIFF so that they will eventually surrender like the others, said Sobejana.The military's armored personnel carrier with troops at its back made its way toward the target zone while Army Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc (center/photo below) talks to a local after the operation. Image may contain one or more people tree sky grass outdoor and nature sand//scontent.fmnl8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/33784256_816861465186999_5871277347977560064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0andamp_nc_eui2=AeETfNz74L-aP1XbVjmrxHZAxYvWueF7zKNZ53WEkcpMbOMUuG_oEzc3HnG-SD7VpDZHx3BVk-wYw7TQWjRZYEoRw5wD1emPWB0v7QuZrNI6Xwandampoh=2cf00ac41e59fdaa50cf47e1e0dc6367andampoe=5B832E62 Image may contain 4 people outdoor sand//scontent.fmnl8-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/33896712_816861531853659_8744698026204856320_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0andamp_nc_eui2=AeHujw6NY8OXZvwNenp9C9yBXnZfCUXRlOas7SFoSb6JHHnTJSz6vQ2Sq6DphEhlPuOnfW3-QtttCWJkhtZQsiT8EcI-C2ZTXKJxuX0B2TGVygandampoh=f620ca628ac50eb0a4ab57da3b2537e0andampoe=5B8E8847