Troops kill 8 BIFF members in Maguindanao town clash

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Soldiers gunned down eight of the bandits that ambushed a petroleum tanker and a cargo truck Tuesday dawn in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao.

Five of the eight slain members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have been identified as Kamad Karok, Bro Bambalan,  Iskak Kudto,  Kidsel Manedsel and Sadam Samama.

Local officials have confirmed that eight other BIFF bandits were wounded in ensuing firefights with soldiers dispatched to rescue the drivers of the ambushed lorry and hauler truck.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the portion of the Cotabato-Gen. Santos Highway straddling through Guindulungan, which soldiers closed to traffic due to presence of BIFF bandits, was reopened past noontime Tuesday.

“It took some time for our soldiers to re-open the highway because of extensive clearing of the thoroughfare from explosive devices planted  by the bandits,” Hermoso said.

One of the roadside bombs the gunmen were to plant along one side of the highway exploded prematurely, killing a still unidentified courier.

Local officials said the roadside bombs were intended to cripple buses and passenger vehicles whose drivers and operators have refused  to pay the brigand BIFF “protection money”.

Hermoso said Edgardo Gamalo, driver of the lorry, which was filled with some 50,000 liters of petroleum fuel, was slightly wounded in the ambush.

The driver of the truck trailing behind, Fitzgerald Mallorca, was unhurt.

The two drivers were able to run toward a detachment manned by militiamen in another barangay traversed by the same highway, after the bandits opened fire at their vehicle.

The bandits chased Mallorca and Gamalo as they ran away, but balked after sensing that militiamen from the detachment have maneuvered to the sides of the highway.

Responding soldiers traded shots with the ambushers in running firefight that lasted for one hour, which waned only when eight of the bandits were killed.

Hermoso said the 6th ID will continue with its calibrated “police action” against the BIFF to prevent them from perpetrating more atrocities, particularly with the approach of the Eid’l Fitr, or culmination of the Islamic Ramadhan fasting season.

Muslims will celebrate the Eid’l Fitr as soon as the new moon is sighted anytime next week.