CAMP SIONGCO, March 23 -- A ranking officer of the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed during an encounter with government forces in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, an Army official said Saturday.

Brig. Gen. Jose Vladimir Caraga, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, identified the slain rebel as Abu Halil, the training officer of the BIFF headed by Ustadz Kagi Karialan.

Caraga said a 20-minute firefight erupted in Sitio Binakuyan, Barangay Lower Salbu, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday while the soldiers were checking on reports from civilians about the presence of heavily armed men in the village.

"Most people are awake even during the wee hours of the night because they are o...