Security tightened amid possible BIFF retaliation

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines — The Army's 6th Infantry Division on Saturday deployed dozens of tanks along stretches of the Cotabato-Gen. Santos Highway in Maguindanao and established roadblocks to forestall attacks by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

Army intelligence sources said the preparations were prompted by feedback from local folks purporting that the BIFF is planning to carry out more attacks to worsen the security problems caused by the January 25 deadly encounter between policemen and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The BIFF, led by radical clerics feared for the ruthless enforcement of a Taliban-style justice system in areas where they operate, is rabidly opposed to the on-going government-MILF peace initiative, shaken by last week's hostilities in Mamasapano, which caused the deaths of 44 operatives of the police's Special Action Force and 11 Moro rebels.

RELATED: Citing war experience, Mindanao pushes peace deal anew

Four innocent civilians, among them a five-year-old child, were killed while four others were wounded in the ensuing crossfire.

The brigand BIFF does not recognize the July 1997 Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities between the government and the MILF either.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, public affairs chief of 6th ID, said the deployment of tanks along portions of the Cotabato-Gen. Santos Highway and the checkpoints manned by soldiers inspecting vehicles passing through are part of the effort to protect commuters and public conveyances.

The 6th ID had also imposed tight security along strategic hills overlooking the highway, which straddles through several towns in the first and second districts of Maguindanao, after Army units in the province received information from local leaders that a group of heavily-armed motorcycle-riding men were spotted passing by last Friday.

"Our purpose here is to ensure the safety of Muslims, Christians and lumad people passing through that thoroughfare everyday," Petinglay said.

Petinglay said the BIFF is known for its propensity in attacking non-combatants and public conveyances to project its capability to inflict harm on both military and civilian targets at any time.