MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) simultaneously attacked Army outposts along a national highway in the second district of the province before dawn yesterday, the military said.
The BIFF bandits, led by Samad Simpal, Kadaffy Abdulatip and a certain Bungos, first fired assault rifles and anti-tank rockets on the roadside detachment of the Army’s 45th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Meta in Datu Saudi town and nearby installations, provoking firefights.
Another group also shelled with shoulder-fired grenades the old provincial capitol compound in Shariff Aguak town, which is being used as a command base of the 1st Mechanized Brigade.
There were no reports of casualties, but the attacks triggered panic among residents.
The bandits fled after the soldiers returned fire with .50-calber machineguns and 40-mm grenade projectiles.
The attacks prompted the Army’s 6th Infantry Division to tighten security in the surroundings of the affected towns, while the Maguindanao police deployed more policemen in areas vulnerable to such attacks, according to Senior Superintendent Rudelio Jocson, provincial police director.