KIDAPAWAN CITY – Government troops killed 7 gunmen – who allegedly had links with the extremist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters – in a clash in North Cotabato’s Midsayap town, officials said Thursday.
Officials said policemen, backed by soldiers, raided the gunmen’s hideout on Wednesday and sparked a 30-minute firefight that killed 7 of them, including their leader, Mama Macalimbol.
No soldiers were wounded or slain in the fighting, according to Lt. Col. Glen Caballero, commander of the 34th Infantry Battalion, who said they were able to locate the gunmen after a long surveillance operation and information provided by villagers.
Caballero said the target of the operation was Macalimbol, who had been blamed by authorities for the spate of criminality in the province.
Lt. Col. John Calinga, the town’s police chief, said one of the slain gunmen had been identified as Bidis Macarimbang.
Security forces have recovered assorted automatic rifles, including a .50-caliber sniper rifle from the slain gunmen, whose bodies were taken away by their families. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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