GOVERNMENT troops have discovered a shack in the middle of a marshland where extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are manufacturing improvised bombs, the Philippine Army announced on Tuesday.

Col. Oriel Pangcog, Army 601st Infantry Brigade chief, said terrorist materials and documents with bloodstains were found on Monday, October 3, inside the shack in Inaladan village, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao.

Pangcog also said the bloodstains were an indication that BIFF rebels operating in the area sustained injuries in a clearing operation that started Friday, September 30, last week.

“The prolonged operation also led to the recovery of improvised bombs and components in bomb-making,” he added.

Authorities also found other documents indicating that the terrorist organization is bent on sabotaging the peace process.

The government forces were pursuing the groups of Ysa Ganoy, Abdulkarim Hashim, Ben Harrsi and Emarudin Kulay, all BIFF field commanders, during the operation.

Lately, residents in Datu Saydona Mustapha town complained of money being taken from them by the BIFF.

Pangcog said farmers and fisherfolk have also complained that the group had prevented them from tending their farms or fishing in the marshland.

The government, he added, remains open to BIFF extremists who wish to surrender.