12 soldiers dead in Philippine army’s clash with rebels

At least 12 Philippine soldiers were killed in a clash between the Philippine government’s army and about 50 insurgents in southern Philippines on March 9 (Illustrative photo: Xinhua/VNA)

The fighting occurred on March 8 morning in Salbu village of Date Saudi Ampatuan town in Magunindanao province, according to Army Captain Arvin Encinas.

The rebels were members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), he said, adding that 23 rebels and a Philippine soldier have also been wounded in the clash.

The Philippine army has cooperated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in stepping up operations against the BIFF since August last year.

The MILF signed a peace accord with the government in 2014 while the BIFF, a MILF splinter group, opposed the pact. Like Abu Sayyaf and Maute Groups, the BIFF has also pledged allegiance to the self-claimed Islamic State (IS)./.

VNA