MNLF: ISIS preachers in Mindanao for alliance with extremists

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign preachers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have begun arriving in Mindanao and Sulu to seek alliance with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and other extremist groups, a top official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) revealed yesterday.

MNLF spokesman Emmanuel Fontanilla said the arrival of ISIS preachers was monitored last August and they began making rounds of rebel camps in Central Mindanao and Sulu.

“The ISIS preachers who are floating the Islamic extremist belief wanted to get the support of the BIFF and Abu Sayyaf in their effort to expand their caliphate in Mindanao,” he said.

Fontanilla said ISIS missionaries wanted to put under their umbrella the terror groups in Mindanao.

According to Fontanilla, he was shown photographs of groups who have already pledged allegiance to ISIS.

The MNLF, however, has ruled out any alliance with the extremists since it is against their policy to use violence in attaining their political objective.

“MNLF will pursue its political objective peacefully, we are against violence,” he said.

Fontanilla said the ISIS wanted to maintain its status as a “sovereign state of the entire Muslim faithful.”

“The ISIS want to put Mindanao and Sulu in the ISIS map,” he said.

Fontanilla said ISIS preachers have split into several groups, accompanied by local Sunni imams in their recruitment activities.

Once they secure the support of certain groups, they will pose with their armed allies pledging allegiance to the ISIS flag.

Fontanilla, however, expressed doubts if the ISIS would get support of the MNLF since founding chairman Nur Misuari has already declared the Bangsamoro Republik.