Intensified operations against the BIFF continues

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 21^st Mechanized Company led by 1^st 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 1^st encounter lasted for two hours.

The disorder continued when another section of the 21^st 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.