Marauding BIFF bandits abduct six ethnic Teduray tribesmen

MAGUINDANAO - Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters snatched six men in Datu Hoffer town Wednesday but four of them managed to escape, authorities said Thursday.The six men --- Kannie, Mael and Elvin, all surnamed Minggil, Uzik Labina, Kew Mintos and Kong Mentos --- were flagged down by BIFF gunmen Wednesday while on their way to their farms in Barangay Limpongo, Datu Hoffer and herded away at gunpoint.They were snatched just as another BIFF group killed a Teduray farmer, Diego Met Dagadas, in a nearby barangay.Moro and Teduray community elders told the police Labina and the Minggils escaped while their captors were resting in an open field after a long walk from the spot where they were abducted.Senior Supt. Agustin Tello of the Maguindanao provincial police said they received reports from barangay officials at noon Thursday purporting that two still unidentified male cadavers were found in Barangay Kabintog in Datu Hoffer.Tello said efforts to determine the identities of the dead men are still underway.Relatives of the two Mintos said it was possible their BIFF captors had executed them both.Army officials said the abduction of the six farmers was an apparent retaliation for the losses the BIFF suffered in encounters with soldiers in Datu Unsay town in Maguindanao on December 25.Major Gen. Arnel Dela Vega, commander of the Army’s 6thInfantry Division, said soldiers are now helping local officials search for the two missing Teduray men held captive by BIFF bandits.