COTABATO CITY—Media reports said two troops killed and one wounded when elements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) clashed Sunday night (May 3), at Datu Hoffer Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.
The Western Mindanao Command identified the fatalities as Private First Class Vicente Gata Jr. and Private First Class Jermie Ombiang, both from the 57th Infantry Battalion. They were deployed in Barangay Talibadok of the said town to guard areas under enhanced community quarantine when they were attacked by undetermined number of BIFF terrorists.
The firefight lasted for about 45 minutes leaving two deaths and one wounded on the side of the military while there was no report yet of casualty on the part of the rebel group.
In his statement, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Command Chief of the Western Mindanao Command said: “We will make sure that these terrorists, who are obviously desperate to strike back during this time when we are all working to defeat the coronavirus, will pay for their treacherous acts.”
Armed clashes like this continue unabated in this part of Mindanao despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Last month, the Western Mindanao Command also lost 11 soldiers from Abu Sayaff Group in Tawi-tawi. Encounters with the New People’s Army are also happening in different parts of the country after the lifting of the ceasefire due to Covid-19 crisis.
