[Inquirer] The Philippine military said air and ground assaults on hideouts of Moro militants suspected of providing shelter to terrorists had killed at least 21 militants and injured 26 others. The offensives took place from March 13 to 16.Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, said the attacks only led to displacement of villagers. He said, "The bombs only hit trees and the marshland. We were not there when the bombings occurred. We are not affected, only the civilians were displaced."
"We are still here," Mama said, denying that the BIFF was providing shelter to terrorists.
Early Saturday morning, five weapons were recovered following a brief clash between troops and the BIFF in Raja Buayan, Maguindanao. Military spokesman John Encinas said soldiers also found manuals for bomb-making that indicated the presence of terrorists in the area.
The militants and their trainees were allegedly targeting power lines and other civilian installations in Mindanao. Encinas said the group that the soldiers encountered in Raja Buayan was among those trained by slain international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was killed in Maguindanao, in January 2015.
The group with links to Marwan has been training local rebels, including members of the Maute Group, to make bombs. Test missions include bombing power pylons and public places.