Seven members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Karialan faction were killed in a joint law enforcement operation carried out by combined elements of the military and the Philippine National Police.
According to Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the military’s Joint Task Force Central, troops implemented search warrants on Sunday against Nasser Yussef Hussain alias Tutin Usop and Nurjihad Husain alias Datdat Usop at Barangay Damawato, Datu Paglas in Maguindanao del Sur.
As the operating team approached the residence of the Husains residence, an undetermined number of BIFF members fired upon the government forces, which resulted in the wounding of one police personnel.
The team fired back, which resulted in the death of the seven BIFF members, including the Husains. The operation also resulted in the seizure of six firearms and assorted ammunition, including an Uzi, two M-16 rifles and three .45 caliber pistols.
In Lanao del Sur, soldiers discovered on Sunday an arms cache of the Islamic State allied Daulah Islamiyah at Barangay Bulawan, Marogong, Lanao del Sur.
The cache, belonging to the group of Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group subleader Ustadz Nasser Daud, included a .50 caliber sniper rifle with two bandoliers and four magazines.
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command, commended the troops of the Joint Task Force ZamPelan under Major Gen. Antonio Nafarrete for the operation.
“Our troops remain steadfast in clearing the communities from the remnants of the different threat groups and eliminating the tools of violence and terrorism,” Galido said.
“With all the positive results of our operations, we will continue to intensify our combat and non-combat operations to sustain the momentum,” he added.