Military continues ops vs. BIFF in Maguindanao

Published January 29, 2014 11:16am

(Updated 11:38 a.m.) Military operations against the splinter group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) entered its third day on Wednesday in the Maguindanao province, a television report said.

According to Chino Gaston's report on GMA News TV's News To Go, government troops continue to maneuver against members of the BIFF, who had an encounter with government troops after the signing of the last annex of the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Saturday.

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the MILF. It is headed by Ameril Umbra Kato, who led attacks in Mindanao in 2008 after the Supreme Court thumbed down a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain.

Military troops started bombarding BIFF positions in the Maguindanao province with 105-mm howitzers on Tuesday, a separate report on News to Go said.

Also, the military launched an air strike on Monday against the rebels, according to the report, quoting the Mindanao Human Rights Action Center.

At least 20 rebels died during the military's law enforcement operation against the breakaway group, it said. However, BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama denied claims on their casualties.

Meanwhile, the military and the police are conducting joint law enforcement operations to serve arrest warrants against members of the BIFF, it added.

Earlier, AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the law enforcement operation was conducted to to battle lawless elements such as the BIFF and other auxiliary groups that threaten the community and the safety and security of the people residing in it.

“We consider them as peace spoilers. They may do actions that are detrimental to our peace process that is advancing greatly,” he said in an interview with reporters.

For his part, Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesperson of the Armed Forces 6th Infantry Division, said intense fighting erupted when BIFF members refused to accept arrest warrants issued by the court.

“Nagbakbakan ng umaga at nagtapos ng alas-kwatro ng hapon. May dalawang slightly wounded na sundalo, okay naman sila ngayon. Dun sa BIFF, as what we got from the ground, may 17 na nasawi at patuloy na bineberipika ng barangay peace and order council ang iba,” he said.

BIFF has at least 100 members, according to the AFP official, noting that Shariff Saydona Mustafa, where the fighting occurred, is a rebel stronghold.

Public market blast

On the other hand, authorities alleged the BIFF as the group behind the bombing at a public market in Datu Piang, Maguindanao, where an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden inside a trashcan exploded, the report said.

However, the BIFF spokesman denied any involvement of the group, it added. Police officials are now conducting further investigation.

Meanwhile, there was no immediate report of casualties from both sides, it said.

There was also no report on the number of families and individuals at evacuation centers.

However, authorities are expecting an increase as the clash continues on its third day. —Amanda Fernandez/KG, GMA News

Tags: biffarmyclash, bangsamoroislamicfreedomfighters, maguindanao