COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The continuing attacks by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Central Mindanao has nothing to do with the delayed approval of the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by Congress, the group’s spokesman said yesterday.
The draft, as proposed, enables the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a Bangsamoro political entity. It is based on the March 27, 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“We don’t recognize or support the on-going peace efforts of the government and the MILF. This is our very own struggle for an independent Islamic state,” said BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama.
The BIFF is categorized as a terrorist group and is comprised of rogue Moro rebels led by radical preachers known for their extreme interpretation of the Qur’an and ruthless enforcement of a Taliban-style justice system in areas where they operate.
For Col. Restituto Padilla, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, the BIFF is simply a breakaway group “that has turned to banditry.”
Field reports showed that at least six BIFF members were killed by government forces in a series of New Year’s Eve encounters in Datu Piang, Shariff Aguak and Shariff Saydona Mustapha, all in Maguindanao province.
The BIFF first harassed a military detachment in Barangay Kaungan, Datu Piang, using an M203 grenade launcher, resulting in a sporadic firefight. It also attacked the Army detachments in Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak and in Barangay Linangtangan, Shariff Saydona Mustapha.
On Christmas Eve, the BIFF attacked a military detachment in Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao, but was repulsed by soldiers. The bandits killed a farmer during their escape.
Local folks want the government and the MILF peace panels to help put an end to the attacks by the BIFF, which warned of more attacks in response to government’s crackdown on local Jihadist factions.
Mama said they would continue to harass peasants and the military to show their continuing opposition to the presence of state forces in Moro-dominated areas in the region.
“The BIFF is not a spent force as what the military keeps saying. We’re here and we shall make the government feel our presence in every opportunity that we can,” Mama added.