Locals help Army get rid marshland of IS linked BIFF

GEN. SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – Residents living around the vast Liguasan marshland in Maguindanao and North Cotabato were elated the IS inspired are gone.This after the military’s air and ground assaults that led to the destruction of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) bomb factory.Locals, mostly fishermen of freshwater fish like mudfish, have been providing the military with information of high intelligence value to the military. The civilians are helping the military crush the BIFF because the group had been making life difficult for them, Lt. Colonel Harold Cabunoc, commander of the 33rdInfantry Battalion, who supervised the ground and seaborne assaults against the BIFF following Air Force bomb ran.The residents likened themselves to Filipino fishermen who were barred by Chinese military vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The locals, mostly residents of Barnagay Midpandacan, SK Pendatun, claimed the BIFF had been preventing them from fishing in the marshland where cat fish and mud fish abound.Jamadel Sinumagan, a mud fish catcher, folk said armed men had been preventing them from getting close to the destroyed shanty in the middle of the marshland.He said his sons and nephews were prevented by the armed men, including foreign looking, to fish near their camp. My sons and nephews told me they were repeatedly barred by Indong-Indong (Indonesians) and Maranw speaking gunmen, Sinumagan said.Even on Independence Day, 33rdIB troopers continued manhunt against fleeing BIFF remnants to get rid Gen. SK Pendatun, Maguindanao from the influence of BIFF.The military have launched howitzers offensive and grenade rifle attacks as clearing opeations continue.Three Army brigades under the 6thID surround the marshland to prevent BIFF from getting into the mainland.Cabunoc said his unit is targeting another bomb making facility on the other side of the marshland. Citing intelligence information, Cabunoc said there are still foreigners among the BIFF in the marshland under Commander Salahuddin Hassan.Cabunoc also said the new battle ground for his men was very challenging as it involves dipping into murky waters. Soldiers are looking for remnants of BIFF hiding in the thick water lilies who could still be armed and dangerous. My men are not only battling the IS-linked BIFF, but also cold river water, mosquitoes and other insects, Cabunoc said, adding the clash site is far from civilian communities. My appeal is you don’t need to evacuate, Cabunoc said, referring to civilians who fled to safer grounds. The hostility is in the middle of the marshland and we are doing our best to confine the war in the marshy area and not in civilian communities. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)