Govt forces discovers BIFF encampment near massacre site
BANGSAMORO NEWS UPDATES • 01:29 AM Thu Dec 6, 2018
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By:
Ferdinandh Cabrera
The intenally displaced families from Sitio Narra, Barangay Salman, Amaptuan, Maguindanao. (FC)
AMPATUAN,
Maguindanao – The military has found an encampment of Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters (BIFF) near the site of Maguinanao massacre in Maguindanao
Wednesday morning.
It was
already abandoned, the rebels are no longer here, Army 1Lt. Juvylito Lisondra,
commander of the 21st Mechanized Company who led the clearing
team.
The area is
difficult for the Army to penetrate and it has easy way out for the rebels
going to mountains, Lisondra said.
The clearing
operation was conducted first thing Wednesday after overnight artillery
offensives against about 50 BIFF rebels sighted in Sitio Narra, Barangay Salman,
Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
Lisondra said
the rebels have planned to put up bomb making facility in the area, near a
white Mosque. The area is overlooking
the towns of Ampatuan, Shariff Aguak and Abdullah Sangki. It was also strategically overlooking the
Maguindanano highway connecting the three towns.
The clearing
team was composed of special units from 2nd Mechanized Battalion and
Maguindanao police.
Artillery
offensives were being launched while government troops were making their way up
and found the encampment of BIFF led by Commander Abu Rusdia and Commander
Diok, all sub-leaders of the BIFF Karialan faction.
Lisondra said
the residents noticed the presence of gunmen on Tuesday night and were
alarmed. They alerted the military and
the police as many civilians have fled.
According to
its spokesperson Abu Amir, the BIFF went up the mountain to observe how’s the
Bangsamoro Organic Law is shaping the political landscape of Maguindanao.
They were
there to look for food, Amir said.
About 100
families are now in three evacuation sites at Barangay Poblacion Ampatuan. Many of them were corn and mongo farmers.
We fled
hastily so we left our food and other valuables, I hope they are still there,
Samira Angles, one of the displaced civilians, said.
Soldiers and
police will stay in Sitio Narra to ensure security of civilians and to prevent
the return of BIFF. Sitio Narra is about
600 meters away from the blood site of 2009 Maguindanao massacre. (Ferdinandh
Cabrera)