MANILA: A high-ranking leader of the militant Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was arrested and his escort was killed in a law enforcement operation in southern Philippine city of Cotabato late on Tuesday, China's Xinhua news agency reported military as saying on Wednesday.
Hassan Indal, alias Abu Hazam, BIFF vice chairman for internal affairs and commander of the group's 4th Division, was collared in Kalanganan village by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court of Cotabato City, said Major General Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of Army's 6th Infantry Division.