Army troopers killed on Wednesday, May 12, four suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) in an aggressive military pursuit operations after last week's attack on a public market in Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the 6th Infantry Division, said the cadavers of the four members of the BIFF were recovered in Barangay Talingko in Datu Paglas town after more than two hours of encounter between some 50 BIFF members and elements of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
The clash, he said, erupted early Wednesday morning when soldiers caught up with the BIFF fighters who have been on the run since the public market attack on March 8.
"This group has been the target of the security force’s pursuit operations in Datu Paglas and other nearby towns after clashing with military forces near the Public Market of said town last Saturday. Since then, the extremist group already suffered four killed and two were arrested with the intensified manhunt of military and police forces," said Uy.
The official said they are continuously conducting pursuit operations against the BIFF.
The attack on the public market and the ensuing clash forced more than 20,000 residents to flee their homes. At least 11 houses were also damaged, according to the report from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).