Philippine troops kill pro-IS leader, 11 others in fierce clashes

COTABATO CITY - Philippine soldiers killed a dozen members, including the leader of the pro-Islamic State extremist group called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters or BIFF in fierce clashes that left seven Infantry men wounded in the restive southern region of Mindanao, officials announced Tuesday.

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Officials said troops mounted an operation after tracking down the BIFF group Monday in the village of Kitango in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao Del Sur.

Photos released by the 6th Infantry Division show recovered BIFF weapons and photos of slain extremist leader and brother following deadly clashes in southern Philippines.

The assault sparked a gun battle that eventually killed Mohiden Animbang, also known as Kagui Karialan, and his brother Saga Animbang, the group's operation chief. 

This was confirmed by Lt. Army Col. Dennis Almorato, the spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division. He said troops also recovered the bodies and weapons of the slain terrorists.

Almorato said intelligence information provided by civilians played a key role in the successful operation against the BIFF. 'Si Major General Alex Rillera (the commander of the 6th Infantry Division) ay nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng mga residente diyan na nagbigay ng impormasyon at natumbok natin itong grupo ni Karialan," he said.

The operation against the remaining BIFF members continues in the Muslim province, a stronghold of the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front whose leader Ahod Ebrahim is the Chief Minister of the Muslim autonomous region.

Ebrahim has not released any statement on the death of the BIFF leader, blamed by authorities for the spate of terror attacks in the South and on rival MILF forces. Most of the BIFF members were former MILF fighters who broke away after the Ebrahim's secessionist group signed a peace deal with Manila in 2014.

The BIFF aligned itself with other extremist groups such as the Maute, Abu Sayaf and Dawlah Islamiya and pledged  their loyalty to the Islamic State and vow to establish a caliphate in the predominantly Catholic population of Mindanao. (Mindanao Examiner)