MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — The Army's 6th Infantry Division on Saturday deployed dozens of tanks along stretches of the Cotabato-Gen. Santos Highway in Maguindanao and established roadblocks to forestall attacks by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
Army intelligence sources said the preparations were prompted by feedback from local folks purporting that the BIFF is planning to carry out more attacks to worsen the security problems caused by the January 25 deadly encounter between policemen and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.
The BIFF, led by radical clerics feared for the ruthless enforcement of a Taliban-style justice system in areas where they operate, is rabidly opposed to the on-going government-MILF peace initiative, shaken by last week's hostilities in Mamasapano, which caused the deaths of 44 operatives of the police's Special Action Force and 11 Moro rebels.
The Philippine Star
