By HIROHITO ‘jong’ D. CADION
PAGADIAN CITY (July 5, 2018) - As forces continue the conduct of
military operations over respective areas, Joint Task Force Central under Brigadier
General Cirilito Sobejana is now gaining advantage against the BIFF in Central
Mindanao, WesMinCom official said.
LTC Gerry
M. Besana, WesMinCom spokesperson disclosed that the focused military
operations began at around 7:57am of July 1 when the troops of the 21st
Mechanized Company led by 1st Lieutenant Juvylito Lisondra were
conducting blocking operation in Barangay Pamalian, Shariff Saydona Mustapha,
Maguindanao encountered more or less fifteen members of the Bangsamoro Islamic
Freedom Fighters under a.k.a Abu Turaiffe. This 1st encounter lasted
for two hours.
The
disorder continued when another section of the 21st Mech was harassed
by undetermined number of BIFF at around 2:45pm of the same day in Barangay
Elian, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao which resulted to the wounding of three
soldiers, LTC Besana said.
LTC Besana
also said that on the second day at about 5:50am of July 2, one Mechanized
Infantry Platoon of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion led by 1Lt. Cañete and one
infantry section of the Alpha Company, 57th Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt.
Malana encountered more or less thirty combined forces of the BIFF and
Daesh-Inspired Turaiffe Group in Barangay Pusao, Shariff Saydona, Mustapha,
Maguindanao.
The
intermittent exchange of gunfire lasted for about 10 hours, after which the
militants withdrew, bringing with them their casualties. The troops of the
Tactical Operations Group 12 then provided Combat Air Strike at around 1:19pm,
he added.
At around
7:20am, Monday July 2, in Barangay Elian, DSA, Maguindanao, another encounter
transpired between the troops of the 23rd Mechanized Company and more or less
20 members of the BIFF and it lasted for about fifteen minutes, he said.
Besane also
added that while the encounter in Barangay Pusao continues, another firefight
ensued in Barangay Pamalian between the troops of the Bravo Company of the 57th
Infantry Battalion led by 1Lt. Mervin Rosal and more or less 20 BIFF members at
around 3:50pm of the same day.
Personnel from
the 57th Infantry Battalion delivered accurate mortar fires to the locations of
the enemy opting the rebels to scamper to different directions, Bersane said.
Within the
1st two days of the conduct of focused military operation, undetermined number
of fatalities were noted on the enemy side while three casualties were listed on
the government side, who are recuperating at the Midsayap Specialist Hospital
as of press time, he added.
Besana also
disclosed that at 5am Tuesday (July 3),the Command Group composed of the 33rd
Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Harold Cabunoc conducted another
operation, SAF led PSupt. Padla, Special Reaction Platoon led by 1Lt. Gleniel
Ambojnon, 1st Platoon Alpha Company led by 2Lt. Dennis Gamos, 1st Platoon Bravo
Company led by 2Lt. Mark John Arunday, 14th Mech led by 1Lt. Pañamogan, and 12
Mech led by 1Lt. Peralta against the ISIS-inspired BIFF group led by Ustadz
Solaiman Tudon at Sitio Mopac, Barangay Poblacion, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao.
Three soldiers were wounded during the close quarter battle.
Clearing
operations followed after the fire interdiction which yielded to the recovery
of three (3) Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Triggering Mechanisms. A
total of four terrorists were killed and two others were wounded, LTC Besana
said.
“We will go
after the bandits to safeguard the civilians and put an end to this menace of
society,” said Brigadier General Cirilito Sobejana, Commander of the JTF
Central.
Pursuit
operation was conducted by the 40th Infantry Battalion led by Lt. Col Catu to
neutralize BIFF Commander Marrox of the Karialan Faction at 9pm yesterday in
Sitio Dalem, Pidsandawan, Mamasapano which yielded four high-powered firearms
and 1 casualty (body count) from the enemy side, WesMinCom official added..
He also
said that while conducting clearing operations in the area, troops from the
Alpha Company of the 40th IB under 1Lt. Charles Joseph Ramos together with
Scout Platoon, HHC under 1Lt. Mario Flores and intelligence operatives chanced
upon more or less 15 armed BIFF members under Mah Nanding a.k.a Commander
Marrox at 6:08 this morning. Troops are continuously probing the area for the
possible recovery of additional body counts as more enemies were confirmed hit
due to body parts littered in the encounter area. Additional seizures include
three M14, two M1 Carbine, one Garand, 1 Ultimax SMG 3, and 3 Shotguns.
Firefight continues.
"We
believe the enemies are just in the immediate vicinity hiding from our troops,
that is why we are urging the people to report suspicious looking people they
happen to meet in the area," WestMinCom Chief Lieutenant General Arnel Dela
Vega said.
"Western
Mindanao Command through the JTF Central will continue to conduct military
operations and maximize intelligence monitoring with the assistance of the
police, the local government, and the civilians in Central Mindanao," LtGen
Dela Vega added.
As of this
report, pursuit and blockade are being conducted by the ground troops to thwart
the extrication of the enemies. Aerial and land assets are being utilized to
track down the fleeing members of the terror group in the immediate vicinity of
the encounter site.
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