Government troops yesterday killed 15 members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and destroyed the main explosive factory of the group in Central Mindanao after pounding the area with air, artillery and ground assaults.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID), said the operation started at around 4 a.m. along the southern Liguasan area.

“We were able to destroy the main improvised explosive device factory in southern Liguasan. At least 15 members of the group were killed. So this is a huge loss to them,” Sobejana said.

“We already occupied the area. In fact, we raised the Philippine flag right inside the IED manufacturing facility,” he added.

Sobejana said the military utilized all its available assets during the operation — combining air, artillery and ground capabilities.

But he stressed that the troops put premium to the safety of the civilians in the area.

“We made use of all our available capabilities…we employed reasonable force to neutralize the military target,” Sobejana said.

“This (operation) was very deliberate, we have to make sure that no innocent civilians will be affected and we preserve the peace process with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front),” he added.

Liguasan Marsh is a known stronghold of the MILF.

As of press time yesterday, Sobejana said that clearing operations were still ongoing in the area.

According to Sobejana, there was little resistance coming from the BIFF, composed of about 100 fighters.

“But our troops managed to immediately close in and they (BIFF) scampered in different places in the marshland,” Sobejana said.

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