MANILA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The top leader of the terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Karialan Faction and 11 of his men were killed and seven soldiers were injured in a clash in the southern Philippines on Monday morning, local media reported.
Rappler reported Monday evening that Mohiden Animbang, alias Kagui Karialan, was killed, along with his 11 followers, in a fierce battle in Barangay Kitango, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao Del Sur.
In a report, the military said fighting broke out around 7:30 a.m. local time after troops ran into a group of 15 BIFF in a village in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.
Soldiers recovered 12 high-powered firearms, including five M16 assault rifles.
The BIFF, a small armed group aligned with the Islamic State group, is blamed for bombings and other atrocities in the Central Mindanao region in the southern Philippines.
The group broke off from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front when the latter agreed to negotiate a peace pact with the government in 2014. ■