PIGCAWAYAN, North Cotabato (Eagle News) – The military has arrested two Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who were allegedly involved in the attack in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on Wednesday.
The two were identified as Jahren Mantukay, 23, and Bardurin Limba, 28, both members of the BIFF Special Operations Group.
Both are residents of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao.
Mantukay and Limba were arrested by joint forces of the Philippine Army’s 22nd Mechanized Company, the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, and Mechanized Division in Butilin, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.
Authorities confiscated two sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride from the suspects.
Around 100 BIFF attacked a detachment and later a school in Pigcawayan, prompting government security forces to launch a daylong offensive against them.
The military said the suspects escaped later in the day, leaving their 31 hostages in the school–which they defaced with threats against President Rodrigo Duterte—unharmed and safe.