[Gulf Today] At least six "rogue" Moro militants and a soldier died in a series of clashes in Maguindanao province that also saw the participation of two attack helicopters to support the ground troops.Brigade commander Lito Sobejana said 14 other members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and four soldiers were injured in battles that centered mainly on neighboring villages in the town of Shariff Saydona.
Sobejana said the clashes started on Tuesday when soldiers were sent to investigate complaints of villagers that they saw BIFF militants planting improvised bombs along a road leading to town. Sobejana also disclosed the soldiers turned over to the families the bodies of the six dead militants they had recovered in observance of the Muslim tradition for the immediate burial of their dead.
The BIFF insurgents were led by Kagi Kariakan who claimed he was their new leader, leading to suspicions that "all is not well" in the ranks of the secessionist group.