COTABATO CITY – The military here said 21 members of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed and 26 others were wounded during the March 13-16 air and ground assaults in two Maguindanao villages. But BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama denied the Army’s claim, saying the air strikes and the Army operation yielded nothing. “Validations are being made on persistent reports that these terrorists were killed in the well-planned, well-coordinated, and well-executed massive air and ground operations,” Petinglay said. Encinas said the group was seen fleeing Datu Salibo and entered an area in Barangay Pidsandawan where an Army detachment of the 40th Infantry Battalion was located. Encinas said the recovery manuals for IED-making indicated that the slain terrorists have been giving instructions on how to assemble explosive devises and launch bombing attacks.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 19, 2017 14:26 UTC