BIFF blamed for Maguindanao ambush

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines - Local officials are certain members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were responsible for Monday’s ambush of a pick-up truck carrying soldiers in Datu Saudi town south of Maguindanao province.

The passengers of the vehicle, among them 1Lt. Emmanuel Ferrer of the Army’s 2ndMechanized Battalion, were lucky enough that only a certain Private 1st Class Hanelap, was slightly wounded in the attack.

Hanelap was hit by an M-16 bullet in the tip off his right forefinger.

Local officials said they have been receiving persistent feedback from barangay folks that BIFF bandits were behind the ambush.

Senior Inspector Solayman Bacal, Datu Saudi municipal police chief, said probers are now validating information gathered from villagers purporting that the ambushers belong to the BIFF.

The municipality of Datu Saudi was once a bastion of the brigand group, whose forces in the area were driven away by soldiers during an extensive clearing operation that lasted from March 28 to May 3.