[Gulf Today] The Philippine military on Sunday reported teams of soldiers and policemen have retaken three villages in North Cotabato province, which have been occupied since early February by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.Captain Jo-Ann Petingly said members of the BIFF fled from the three villages in the town of Pikit following combined artillery and ground attacks launched by security forces on Saturday. She said, "The villages are already free of the rebels' presence. Our men also scoured and cleared the areas for possible IEDs."
Reports of BIFF casualties have yet to be confirmed. However, Secretary Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense said that based on initial reports, the BIFF members suffered "heavy casualties" as they fled towards the Liguasan Marsh which they use as a haven.
The military said the clashes stemmed from rido (clan war) between MILF and BIFF leaders over possession of prime agricultural properties.