Philippines: Soldiers kill 44 Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in ongoing clashes in the south
Philippine government troops have killed 44 militants in continuing clashes with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an army spokesman said on Sunday (March 11).
Lietenant Colonel Gerry Besana told reporters that the military offensive that started on Thursday was continuing, with 44 militants killed and 26 wounded.
He said the number of casualties was based on “intelligence information”, saying troops did not recover bodies of the dead fighters.
He did not report the number of civilian or government casualties.
The military reported on Friday that heavy fighting broke out around 6am local time on Thursday between government troops and some 50 militants in Lower Salbu, a village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province.