31 BIFF members killed in military operations in Maguindanao

Thirty one members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been confirmed killed in six days of military operations in Maguindanao.

Admitting the soldiers were not able to retrieve the bodies of the slain bandits, Capt. Arvin John Encinas, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, disclosed that members of local communities were the ones who saw the casualties and reported them to authorities.

BIFF members are known to retrieve their dead so they can be buried within 24 hours in keeping with the Muslim tradition, GMA News quoted Capt. Encinas as saying.

The operations in the towns of Talayan, Guindulungan, and Datu Piang were aimed at neutralizing BIFF commander Ismael Abubakar, also known as “Kumander Bungos,” and six Indonesian terrorists who are believed to be bomb experts.

Two other BIFF leaders – Ismael Abdulmalik alias Abu Toraype and Salahuddin Hassan alias Orak – are also targets of military operations in the area.

Encinas said they are still validating reports that Kumander Bungos was among the fatalities.

source: Public Trending