Twelve members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) were killed during the military operation in Maguindanao last Sunday, a military official said Tuesday.

Capt. Arvin Encinas, Army's 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said fighting broke out in the vicinity of Brgy Malingao, Shariff Saydona Mustapha in Maguindanao.

"The operation killed 12 BIFF rebels from air and artillery fires at Sitios Pandan, Mungkas and Bulod of Brgy Malingao," he said.

Encinas said some slain BIFF members were identified as Baser Alon, Nurdin Kalun, Kemi Jainudin, Wahed Anuwar, Bensar Ali, Arapat Gemal, Bedo Gamadil, Wari Brahim, Bakar Seral and Tato Menta.

He said nine members of the bandit group were wounded.

“Our troops on the ground are continuously gaining advantage over the BIFF bandits in the SPMS Box for past seven days of intensified military operation,” said Joint Task Force Central Commander Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana.

The SPMS box refers to the towns of Salibo, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano, and Shariff Aguak. Robina Asido/DMS