Mark Navales/BenarNews
President Rodrigo Duterte urged officials of a Muslim autonomous region in the southern Philippines on Tuesday to help rein in a group of Islamic State-linked militants or risk an all-out military offensive.
In a surprise visit to a military camp in the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat near Cotabato, Duterte met with officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as well as military and police commanders. Three days earlier, members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) briefly occupied a town market in the area before government troops chased them away.
Duterte emphasized that developments such as peace and transitional efforts in the region were being threatened by BIFF.
May 10, 2021
Many residents of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao have returned to their homes after fleeing on Saturday due to clashes between the military and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
But according to Olhamier Saguia, one of the returning residents, some still do not return home due to fear.
“Doon sila pumunta sa kamag-anak nila. Para okay ‘yong pagtulog nila. Tapos ‘yong iba nasa eskwelahan pumunta. ‘Yong mga walang mapuntahan, nasa malapit lang,” said Saguia.
“Takot pa rin kasi nga siyempre ‘yong kahapon, malay mo bumalik at mangyari ulit ‘yon,” he added.
According to the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, about 20 BIFF members clashed with soldiers on Saturday in the town.
Islamist militants occupy part of Philippines market freepressjournal.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from freepressjournal.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Armored personnel carriers make their way along traffic as they augment security forces in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao province, southern Philippines on May 8. (AP Photo)
COTABATO, Philippines Dozens of Muslim militants occupied a public market overnight in the southern Philippines before fleeing after a tense standoff with government forces, officials said Saturday.
The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters did not take any hostage or put up resistance when army troops and police took positions at dawn Saturday near the public market in the farming town of Datu Paglas, said military spokesman Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar.
“They went into the market and stole food but got stuck inside when they saw that our forces have taken positions to ensure other buildings could not be threatened,” he told reporters.
BusinessWorld
May 9, 2021 | 7:52 pm
Children on the move to safer ground in Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao on May 8, 2021. â 601ST INFANTRY UNIFIER BRIGADE
THERE were no civilian or military casualties in Saturdayâs encounter between government forces and members of an extremist group in a commercial area of Datu Paglas town in Maguindanao, according to the countryâs military chief.
An estimated 20 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)Â attempted but failed to occupy the townâs public market located along the national highway, according to Armed Forces of the Philippinesâ Chief of Staff Cirilito E. Sobejana.
The BIFF is a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that signed a peace deal with the government and are currently at the forefront of the new autonomous region in Mindanao.