Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) failed to occupy the public market of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao on Saturday, the military said.
Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, spokesperson of the Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division, downplayed reports that the BIFF terrorists, under the Kagui Karialan faction, occupied the town’s public market.
“Ang tama na term ay threatened to occupy the public market kasi hindi naman talaga nila na occupy yung public market, they threatened to occupy yung public market,” Baldomar said in a phone interview.
The national highway in Datu Paglas municipality in Maguindanao Province has reportedly been closed to motorists since 4:30 a.m. due to a fire fight between government forces and some 100 BIFF terrorists.
The Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maguindanao reported that the armed group blocked the highway with a fully-loaded 10-wheeler truck to prevent civilian vehicles from passing thru the Poblacion where the municipal hall, police station and other vital facilities are located.
There were also combat helicopters flying over the scene of encounter to support ongoing ground maneuver by army forces.
Based on report, Datu Paglas Vice Mayor Tong Paglas told a local radio station in Koronadal City that past 8 a.m. he heard mortar fires.
“Naka-deploy na tayo kaya nagkaroon ng putukan sa area, although, sa pagkakaroon ng putukan, sa aming tropa hindi kami nag-retaliate kasi we wanted to protect and sinisiguro namin na walang sibilyan na naiwan,” Baldomar said.
He said the military has immediately responded upon receiving reports of sightings of heavily-armed group near the public market. He said this is the third day of their pursuit operation against the terrorist group.
“Kanina ang report na receive natin ay nagkaroon ng sightings sa malapit sa palengke kaya nagresponde ang ating kasundaluhan at pangatlong araw na ito na tuloy tuloy ang ating operation sa kanila. Sila ay namataan na naman dito malapit sa area ng Datu Paglas kaya nung tayo ay papalapit sa area doon na nag start magpaputok yung armadong grupo, kaya ating din silang napigilan na ma-occupy ang buong portion ng poblacion ng Datu Paglas,” he explained.
As of 12:19 p.m. of the same day, the military was already clearing the areas including the Datu Paglas-Tulunan highway where the presence of the armed group was seen earlier.
Baldomar said four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered in the areas.
“Sa ngayon naka-recover tayo ng apat na IEDs na kanilang iniwan at sinisigurado natin na before natin pabalikin yung mga tao sa part ng palengke kung saan sinubokang i-occupy ay masigurado muna natin na wala ng mga IEDs o bomba na iniwan itong armadong grupo,” he said.
Baldomar said there are no casualties reported on the part of the military and civilians.
“On the part of BIFF wala po tayong na monitor or na receive na report on the ground regarding sa casualties sa kanila,” he said.
