BIFF sustain heavy losses in latest clashes in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO (July4) --- Four Islamic State-inspired militants were killed while two soldiers and a militiaman were wounded in a series of clashes Tuesday in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao.Cpl. Millard Bacatan and Musa Kalim of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit were injured when a 40 millimeter grenade projectile landed and went off near them amid a gunfight with members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.Private Allan James Cabildo sustained a bullet wound in the lower torso while he and his companions were advancing towards a BIFF position in Mupak area in Datu Paglas.The Army’s 33rdInfantry Battalion and personnel of the Special Action Force from the Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao provincial police offices launched on Tuesday an offensive against BIFF bandits in Datu Paglas on the behest of local officials who had repeatedly tried, but failed to convince them to leave.Traditional Moro elders and barangay officials have confirmed that four bandits - Ali Tudon, Alamid Yusop, Kalon Benzar and a certain Murshid - were killed in encounters with the joint Army and police contingent sent to check on the reported convergence of gunmen led by Abu Solaiman in Mupak area near the town proper of Datu Paglas.Abu Solaiman and his followers retreated to the marshy border of Datu Paglas and General Pendatun town carrying three wounded companions, initially identified only as Odin, Guiday and Kalid, all residents of nearby Shariff Saidona Mustapha, Mguindanao.Soldiers, led by Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc of the 33rdIB recovered improvised explosive devices laid along the route leading to where the group of Abu Solaiman gathered the day before.A platoon from the Army’s 40thIB also gunned down four BIFF bandits in an encounter Wednesday morning in Barangay Pidsandawan in Mamapasano, Maguindanao.Members of the 40thIB were proceeding to Barangay Pidsandawan to check on the reported presence there of a senior BIFF commander, Nanding Mama, when they were attacked from three directions, sparking a running gunfight that lasted for two hours.Four followers of Mama, whom villagers identified only as Usop, Banding, Kamensa and Udtog, were killed in the encounter.Local leaders also reported that four other bandits, Sarip, Munda, Norodin and Faisal, were wounded in the incident.Soldiers had seized firearms left by Mama and his companions in the scene of the encounter as they fled in haste.The firearms, comprised of four M16 rifles, three M14 rifles, an M1 Carbine, a .30 caliber M1 Garand, a 5.56 millimeter Ultimax automatic rifle and three 12 gauge shotguns, are now in the custody of the 40thIB.