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COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/07 August) — Seven soldiers from 12th Mechanized Company were hurt when a roadside bomb reportedly exploded in crossing Datu Kilay-Datu Bakal, Brgy. Nabundas, Shariff Saydona Mustapha Maguindanao at around 9:35am this morning.
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But Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) claimed responsibility for the attack and said they did not use a roadside bomb but M-79 grenade launchers and a volley of gunfire.
He said he received reports that at least five soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in the ambush they initiated.
Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the soldiers are all safe and sustained only slight wounds.
Major Jocelyn Mangadlao, spokesperson of 1st Mechanized brigade said the troops were moving from Rajah Buayan where the soldiers were stationed, en route to their headquarters in Shariff Aguak in a convoy of V-150 armored personnel carrier and KM vehicle when the bomb went off on the side of the road.
The BIFF broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) around March 2010, three months after Ustadz Amiril Umra Kato tendered his resignation as commander of the 105th Base Command of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).
Kato, however, suffered a stroke in November 2011. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera / MindaNews)