MANILA, Philippines: A training officer of the local terrorist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed in a clash with army soldiers in Maguindanao del Sur last week.

Maj. Andrew Linao, Western Mindanao Mindanao acting chief Public Information Office, said in a belated report that Abu Halil, brother of Khadafi Abdulatif, chief of staff of the BIFF-Bungos Faction. was killed at Sitio Binnakuyan, Barangay Lower Saba, Date Saudi Ampatuan.

Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, Western Mindanao Command chief, said soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team were conducting an operation when they encountered an undetermined number of BIFF forces. The firefight lasted for 20 minutes before they retreated.

Maj. Linao said as soldiers scoured the scene, they recovered the body of Halil and weapons such as M16 rifles, four long magazines, among others. Halil's body and the items were turned over to the Scene of Crime Operation (SOCO) Team and Datu Saudi Ampatuan PNP for further disposition.

Gonzales commended the troops of the Joint Task Force Central.

"We are in pursuit of the remaining members of the BIFF and other threat groups in our area of operation. We maximize our efforts to disallow the menaces of society to thrive in the communities and plot terroristic activities, especially during the Holy Week," Gonzales said.

Meanwhile, eight Daulah Islamiyah-Turaifie Group (DI-TG) and seven Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction (BIFF-KF) members surrendered on March 25, 2024.

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