Philippine Army Kills 12 Militants, Including Faction Leader, in Maguindanao Gun Battle

The Philippine army killed 12 militants, including the leader of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters-Karialan Faction (BIFF-Karialan) and his brother, in a fierce gun battle in Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur on Monday morning. The clash left seven soldiers wounded and resulted in the seizure of 12 high-powered firearms from the militants.

The slain BIFF-Karialan leader was identified as Mohiden Animbang, alias Kagui Karialan, who was wanted for 47 heinous crimes and involvement in more than 20 deadly bombings in Central Mindanao over the past seven years. His younger brother, Saga Alimodin Animbang, who served as the faction's operations chief, was also among the fatalities. "Karialan's group has been a 'pain in the ass' for the town, which has been the center of atrocities for several years due to his activities," said the military commander.

The hour-long gunfight occurred around 7:30 a.m. local time when troops from the Army's 1st Brigade Combat Team, led by Brigadier General Jose Vladimir Cagara, encountered about 15 BIFF members in an open swamp area. The army recovered 12 assorted high-powered firearms from the battle site, including M16A1, M14, M653, and M4 rifles, as well as a pistol.

Why this matters: The successful operation against the BIFF-Karialan faction, which has pledged loyalty to the Islamic State, deals a significant blow to extremist groups in the southern Philippines. The neutralization of high-ranking leaders like Karialan and his brother is expected to weaken the militant group's operational capabilities and bring stability to the conflict-affected region.

Major General Alex Rillera, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Central, commended the efforts of the operating troops, stating, "The duty of government soldiers to protect the people against the sowing of violence by terrorist groups has prevailed, and they were pushed to use force to end terrorism in the area." The military had been conducting relentless operations against Karialan's group, which is blamed for past bombings, attacks on security forces, and extortion in the region.

Key Takeaways

• Philippine army killed 12 BIFF-Karialan militants, including their leader and his brother.
• 7 soldiers were wounded in the fierce gun battle in Maguindanao del Sur.
• 12 high-powered firearms were seized from the militants.
• Karialan's group was blamed for past bombings, attacks, and extortion in the region.
• The operation dealt a significant blow to extremist groups in southern Philippines.