Army finds IEDs, war materiel in chase with BIFF

By Edwin Fernandez and Noel Punzalan

November 25, 2019, 6:15 pm

<p><strong>BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS.</strong> Army troopers seize bomb-making components, improvised explosive devices, and a shoulder-fired grenade launcher weapon during separate operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the interiors of Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Datu Piang towns in Maguindanao on Sunday (Nov. 25, 2019). The military says combat operations against the BIFF and Dawlah Islamiyah Terrorist Group are ongoing. <em>(Photos courtesy of the Army's 6th Infantry Division)</em></p>

BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS. Army troopers seize bomb-making components, improvised explosive devices, and a shoulder-fired grenade launcher weapon during separate operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in the interiors of Shariff Saydona Mustapha and Datu Piang towns in Maguindanao on Sunday (Nov. 25, 2019). The military says combat operations against the BIFF and Dawlah Islamiyah Terrorist Group are ongoing. (Photos courtesy of the Army's 6th Infantry Division)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Ongoing military law enforcement operations in Maguindanao led soldiers to two bomb-making facilities of the Islamic State-linked linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Sunday.

Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), said government forces found improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and components and various war materiel during the ongoing combat operations against the BIFF and Dawlah Islamiyah Terrorist Group (DITG).

Members of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the 601st Infantry Brigade (Bde) recovered three IEDs and bomb-making components while conducting combat operations in Barangay Inaladan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao.

Two of the recovered IEDs were placed inside “jetmatic” pumps while one was made using a four-liter water gallon.

"The IEDs were already rigged and ready to be used. It appears that they are planning to use these IEDs for something or somewhere where it will have a big impact," said Lt. Colonel Edwin Alburo, 57IB commanding officer.

Also on Sunday, another unit of 57th IB recovered an IED and a homemade grenade launcher left near the village hall of Barangay Buayan in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

"One of the reasons that we launched these combat operations is to seek those terror devices immediately and disable them since different local government units in Central Mindanao are having their festivities as the year is about to end,” said Colonel Jose Narciso, 601st Bde commander.

On Sunday, the town of Midsayap in North Cotabato had its annual “Sinugba Festival” joined in by an estimated 2,000 people. No untoward incident was reported.

Last week, the province of Sultan Kudarat also successfully wrapped up its Kalimudan Festival that highlights the province’s 21st founding anniversary.

“The timely discovery of these war materiel will surely lessen their capability to wreak havoc and terror and disturb the peace-loving communities here in our JTFC area of operation,” Carreon said. (PNA)

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