By Joseph Jubelag

COTABATO CITY – At least 13 members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been killed as security forces have been able to sustain law enforcement operations for nearly a week against suspected terrorists holed up in Shariff Saydona in Maguindanao.

Lt.Col. Roberto Brenoria, spokesperson of Sixth Infantry Division, said at least 13 members of the Islamic State (IS)-inspired local terrorist group have been killed while a soldier was also killed in almost one week of intermittent skirmishes between government forces and BIFF rebels under Abdul Kober Usman and Eds Grafiel.

Usman and Grafiel are known to be bomb experts responsible for bomb attacks the past year in Central Mindanao.

Seven of the slain terrorists were identified as Abdul Mosaiden, Mohamad Satar, Hamid Ekal, Esmael Kagui Malang, Mubarak Akbal, alyas Alimudin; and Mosanep Kabelan.

Brenoria said the suspected terrorists were killed as government troops launched air strikes and ground assaults for the past several days to flush out the rebels in the areas within the boundary of Shariff Saydona, Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

“We have already cleared the villages of barangay Dasawo and Reina Regenty on the presence of the local terrorists in these areas,” Brenoria said.

He said local officials have also conducted relief operations for hundreds of displaced villagers after the BIFF rebels vacated their encampment in the area.