200 BIFF rebels seen massing up in Maguindanao town

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Soldiers stationed in the town of Datu Saudi Ampatuan said Moro rebels, estimated to be 200, were seen since Friday in the remote barangay (village) of Kitango in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, a known controlled area of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who fought alongside with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105th Base Command on January 25 in nearby Mamasapano town that left 44 elite police commandos killed and wounded 11 others.

The military has tightened the security in the town, putting up checkpoints and deploying tanks to prevent the rebels from launching attacks.

Captain Jo-anne Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the additional troops in area were meant to protect the civilians.

“As much as possible, our troops will be on defensive position,” she said.

Senior Inspector Soliman Bakal, police chief of the Datu Saudi Ampatuan, said they were aware with the reported presence of BIFF in his town.

He said they have been closely working with the military in implementing peace and order.

At least 44 members of Philippine National Police Special Action Force died while 16 others were wounded when they came to Mamasapano to arrest Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan, and local terrorist Basit Usman.

Zulkifli, who had a $5-million by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for his arrest over his involvement in the 2002 Bali bombing in Indonesia that left 110 foreign nationals dead, was reportedly killed, while Usman, a “bomb-making” expert and has a $1-million bounty on his head, managed to escape.