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11 BIFF rebels killed in North Cotabato clashes
[Inquirer] Philippine security forces have killed 11 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as of Saturday since combat operations were launched earlier this week in a remote village of Carmen, North Cotabato. Military spokesman Arvin John Encinas said a militiaman was killed and four other government troops were injured in continuing operations against the group led by Esmael Abdulmalik.Abdulmalik, alias Abu Toraife, was a Maguindanao-based leader of a faction of the BIFF and was linked to the Maute group, Abu Sayyaf and the Ansar al-Khilafa, which pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. Encinas said eight of the 11 slain militants were killed in airstrikes by the military in an area in Tonganon, a hinterland village of Carmen town, starting on Tuesday. He said it was not certain yet if there were foreign fighters among the dead gunmen. Encinas added that the army also captured what appeared to be a BIFF training camp. Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, 6th Infantry Division chief, said the military was expecting the BIFF to launch retaliatory attacks as the military operations in Tonganon intensified. On Wednesday, suspected BIFF men lobbed grenades at two military checkpoints in the village of Tamontaka here. No one was injured. Posted by: ryuge 2017-12-25 |
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