THREE soldiers were injured in Maguindanao yesterday after the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters detonated an anti-personnel mine to delay the advance of pursuing troops, the military said.
Lt. Col. Alaric delos Santos, spokesman of the AFP’s Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City, said forces from the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion were conducting combat clearing operations in Barangay Salman when the mine exploded at around 7:15 a.m
“They just want to impede the movement of our troops and they’d be happy if there will be casualty on our side,” he said.
The military has been conducting operations against the BIFF in Central Mindanao for years now. Military estimates place the group’s strength at 200 to 300 men.
The injured soldiers were brought to Camp Siongco Station Hospital in Maguindanao.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th ID chief, has ordered the deployment of additional troops to pursue the BIFF members behind the attack.
