TWO soldiers were killed while another one was wounded in a clash against the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao, the military said Tuesday, May 5.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said the firefight happened at 8:55 p.m. Sunday in Talibadok village, Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao.
Sobejana said the troops were providing security assistance to the Inter-Agency Task Force on coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in the implementation of community quarantine in Talibadok, Datu Hoffer when fired upon by a group of BIFF militants.
He added that the troops returned fire which triggered a 45-minute firefight that resulted to the death of two soldiers and another injured.
He said the injured soldier as well as the fatalities were immediately extricated and evacuated to the nearest hospital.
Sobejana did not release the identities of the slain and wounded soldiers except to say they belong to the Army's 57th Infantry Battalion.
"We are deeply saddened by the report that two of our brave soldiers were killed in action while performing their duties for the good of humanity," he said.
"We will make sure that these terrorists, who are obviously desperate to strike back during this time when we are all working to defeat the corona virus, will pay for their treacherous acts," he added.
The Westmincom chief said troops were deployed to pursue the fleeing BIFF militants. (VoxPop Zamboanga)