REBEL WAR MATERIEL. Government troops recover an anti-personnel mine and a .45-caliber pistol from the slain notorious member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) following a law enforcement operation in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town, Maguindanao del Sur province on Saturday (April 22, 2023). Killed was a certain Datu Guibo, a known bomb maker-cum-courier of the BIFF group operating in Maguindanao. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao Norte – A bombmaker of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIFF) was killed in a shootout with authorities during an operation in Shariff Saydona Mustapha town, Maguindanao del Sur province over the weekend.
In an interview Monday, Lt. Col. Udgie Villan, the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion acting commander, identified the slain rebel as Datu Guibo, an alleged BIFF bomb maker-cum-courier.
Villan said joint forces of 33IB and Provincial Police Mobile Force Company were to serve a warrant of arrest for various offenses to Guibo last Saturday when fired upon by the suspect’s group.
“As the troops were approaching Guibo’s safe house, his followers numbering about ten opened fire, triggering a brief firefight,” said Brig. General Oriel Pangcog, the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade commander.
Guibo was fatally hit while his comrades hurriedly escaped. Recovered were a pistol and anti-personnel mine, Pagcog added.
No casualty was reported on the government side.
Rebel surrenderers
Meanwhile, six Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered in Midsayap town, North Cotabato province to the Army’s 36IB on Friday last week.
The rebels turned in rifles, including a homemade sniper rifle, and bullets during surrender rites in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap.
Since January, a total of 56 BIFF members have surrendered to the Army in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. (PNA)
