Troops capture 5 BIFF gunmen in Maguindanao province

COTABATO CITY – Security forces captured 5 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters following a clash on Wednesday in the town of Datu Paglas in the troubled province of Maguindanao in southern Philippines, officials said.

Colonel Bismarck Soliba, commander of the 1^st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, said they also seized a machine gun, a sniper rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and two automatic rifles from the militants.

There were no reports of casualties on the government side, he said, adding, police and military authorities continue to hunt down BIFF members in the province. The group was believed behind a recent roadside bombing in the province. (Rhoderick Beñez)

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