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Five soldiers wounded in S. Philippine attack

Xinhua, April 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Five Army soldiers were wounded when suspected members of lawless Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) attacked them Thursday night in southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, the military said Friday.

The BIFF bandits fired the temporary position of Army troopers using 40 millimeter M203 grenade launchers at around 7:00 p.m. in Pagatin village, Datu Salibo town, said Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

He directed the Army's 6th Infantry Division General Edmundo Pangilinan to file criminal case against Esmael Abu Bakar, alias Kumander Bungos, who is responsible for the series of attacks against the government troops in Maguindanao for two consecutive nights.

Aside from Thursday's attack, Bungos led the BIFF in assaulting Army's position on Wednesday.

Catapang also called on the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) , the largest Muslim rebel group in the country, to prevent the members of the BIFF from entering their communities.

He has enjoined the MILF to help the government forces in flushing out the BIFF who are spoiling the peace process in Mindanao.

The BIFF is the armed wing of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, which broke away from the MILF due to disagreements over the conduct of peace negotiations with the Philippine government. Endi