AFP: BIFF power struggle pits Umbra Kato’s kin vs. Abubakar

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters may be in the middle of a power struggle following the death of its founder Ameril Umbra Kato, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Wednesday.

The AFP has said that the BIFF had announced that Sheik Esmail or Ismael Abubakar, alias Kumander Bungos, was the new leader of the armed group that broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

However, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said Kato's clan might not readily accept Bungos' leadership. He said Kato's relative Kagi Karialan had been leading the BIFF since Kato suffered a stroke in November 2011.

"Hindi naman papayag 'yung direktang kaanak ni Kato, si Kagi Karialan. The basis of their membership ay based sa clan lines, kung sino ang kalapit na pamilya," Cabunoc said.

Cabunoc said the controversy could eventually break up the BIFF.

"Posibilidad 'yon, at makikita natin 'yung paghina ng kanilang hanay kapag wala na silang tinitingala na isang grupo," he said.

On Tuesday, Cabunoc said Karialan would be replacing Kato as head of the BIFF.

Cabunoc described Karialan as "more aggressive and radical" than Kato, but the threat, according to him,  remained the same.

Cabunoc added that Karialan was among those who pledged allegiance the Islamic State, the extremist group that now control large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

"Kung matandaan natin mayroon siyang video footage na nagpapaktia na mayroon siyang black and white flag ng ISIS at nakakabahala ito," Cabunoc said.

"Wala namang ebidensya na may actual na ugnayan 'yung ISIS at ng BIFF, ngunit nakakabahala ito dahil ayaw naman natin na maging laganap ng presensya o may sasali na mga kabataan na maradicalize at magsagawa ng terorismo sa mga kumunidad," he added.

Asked if Bungos was tamer, Cabunoc said: "Yes."

He, however, added that Bungos was also considered as an aggressive leader who recently led an ambush against the military in Mindanao in March. —NB, GMA News