Casualties in troops-BIFF clash climb to 9

MANILA, Philippines - A female civilian was among those who were killed during the encounter between the military and rogue Moro rebels in Maguindanao last Tuesday.

Army reports said a certain Baikong Mohammad Mala was killed in the crossfire during the clash between state forces and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.

Mala is the ninth fatality of the gun battle, which also left eight members of the BIFF dead.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman of the Army’s 6th division, said police investigations had revealed that the bullet that hit the victim came from the side of the rebels.

The local government and the Army are now providing assistance to the victim's family.

Hermoso said the situation in Maguindanao has returned to normal save for the floods caused by heavy rains.

“Perhaps they (BIFF) are resting and are licking their wounds. But they may attack again in a few days,” he said. 

The military has deployed additional troops to secure the national roads, vital installations and civilian communities in the area.

The Office of Civil Defense - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao said the firefight displaced an undetermined number of residents in Guindulungan town. Local disaster management offices are still assessing the extent of damage and losses due to the incident.

Eight BIFF members were killed in a clash with state forces last Tuesday after the rebels tried to seize a cargo truck and petroleum tanker in Guindulungan

A certain Edgardo Gamalo, the driver of the tanker, was hurt during the hour-long encounter.

The rebels reportedly blocked a part of the Cotabato-General Santos Highway going through Guindulungan and planted improvised explosive devices along the road.

Authorities said the explosives were meant to pressure businessmen who refuse to give in to the BIFF’s extortion demands.

Security forces are now conducting pursuit operations against the rebels.

The BIFF broke away from the MILF due to differences over the peace talks with the government.

The BIFF has criticized the MILF leadership for supposedly abandoning its original stance of independence. Officials said the BIFF”s recent activities were attempts to sabotage the peace talks.