Ampatuan army linked to BIFF

MANILA, Philippines - Some members of the private army of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. have joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a Mindanao-based security official said yesterday.

“We are receiving reports that some members of the disbanded private army of ex-Gov. Ampatuan have joined the BIFF with the help of their relatives. The rest… either they went into hiding or are now serving the rich relatives of the detained ex-Maguindanao governor,” the official said.

Reports quoting Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and commander of the AFP-Civil Relations Service, said members of Ampatuan’s armed group are under the BIFF faction led by its former vice chairman Mohammad Ali Tambako.

Ampatuan’s legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio has denied the allegation, saying the Ampatuans have no power to form and maintain private armed groups.

“My client informs me that this is untrue, and may be part of the continuing attempt to obfuscate and confound the issue by floating the names of other parties,” Topacio said.

“The Ampatuans have been out of power for approximately five years, and their resources practically exhausted; therefore they do not have the influence and wherewithal to form and maintain private armed groups,” he added.

A security official, however, said many members of Ampatuan’s private army are still being pursued by the BIFF due to the rido declared by BIFF founder Ameril Umbra Kato against the Ampatuans when he was still commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 105th Base Command.  With Janvic Mateo,  Alexis Romero, Gerry Lee Gorit