Cop dies, another hurt in Maguindanao ambush

COTABATO CITY – A police officer was killed while his companion was wounded when suspected hit men of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked them in Maguindanao Tuesday.Killed was Police Officer 1 Habib Nasifu while PO1 Abdullah Asim was injured. Both belonged to PNP Regional Public Safety Battalion based in Datu Salibo town, Maguindanao. Senior Inspector Solaiman Bakal, Datu Saudi Ampatuan town police chief, said the two unarmed and in civilian clothes police officers were onboard a tricycle at 10 a.m. when two men riding tandem opened fire on them from behind in Sitio Manhole, Barangay Lower Salbo. Responding policemen recovered empty shells of cal. 45 pistols at the crime scene. Tuesday’s attack was one of the series of hit and run attacks by the BIFF. Its spokesperson, Abu Misri Mama, quickly admitted his group was behind the attack. Army and military are our enemies,” he said in a phone interview. Since January, at least 10 soldiers and policemen have been neutralized by BIFF hit men in Maguindanao.