Philippine govt troops kill bomb courier in firefight with Moro terror group

The bomb courier was allegedly with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters terror group.

War meteriel seized from the scene of a firefight between Philippine government troops and a Moro terror group in Maguindanao del Sur province on Apr 21, 2023. (6ID pic) 

MAGUINDANAO DEL SUR: Philippine government troops killed a Moro terror group's alleged bomb courier during a firefight in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao del Sur, the military has said. 

The Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division (6ID), in a statement Saturday (Apr 22), said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) terror group's supporter was killed during a law enforcement-support operation in Shariff Saydona Mustapha municipality on Friday (April 21).

Lieutenant Colonel Udgie Villan, the acting commanding officer of the Philippine Army's 33rd Infantry Battalion (33IB), said in the statement that the suspect known by his alias, Datu Guibo, was the subject of the implementation of a warrant of arrest by the 33IB and the Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Police Office.

Brigadier General Oriel Pangcog, commander of the Philippine Army's 601st Infantry ​​Brigade, also in the statement said their joint forces with the police were making an approach to implement the arrest warrant when they were suddenly fired upon. 

The government troops returned fire and a firefight ensued for eight minutes, said Pangcog. 

The troops recovered a .45 pistol, one magazine, three rounds of ammunition and one anti-personnel mine from the scene of the confrontation.

Major General Alex Rillera, the 6ID and Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) commander, said the troops did not hesitate in killing the terrorist that threatened the area's security.

"The 6ID and JTFC are again calling for peace. But if you continue to embrace false beliefs and continue to create violence, if you think against the legitimate government, expect more troops to pursue you," warned Rillera.

The 6ID did not say which BIFF faction the slain suspected bomb courier was with.

Two BIFF factions named Bungos and Abu Turayfie in the southern Philippines are aligned with Daesh while the Karialan faction has shunned the Middle Eastern terror group's ideology.