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Southeast Asia

11 BIFFs killed, 300 families flee in Maguindanao air strikes

2017-03-14

[GMANETWORK] At least 11 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters ...a MILF splinter group aligned with the Islamic State... (BIFF) have been killed in air strikes launched by the military at the bandit group's known lairs in two villages in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao. Capt. Ervin Encinas, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said the offensive's target was the group of a certain Kumander Bungos of the BIFF and three foreign terrorists. Encinas said several other BIFF members were also injured in the air strikes, which started on Monday afternoon. He said the group of Kumander Bungos has encampments in barangays Andavit and Tee. Local officials said that at least 300 families have been forced to evacuate due to the military's offensive. Col. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade, said senior Jemaah Islamiyah member and known bomber Mohammad Ali alias Muawiyah is among the foreign turbans included in Kumander Bungos' group. It can be recalled that the military had claimed that Ali was killed in an assault in 2012, but later took back the announcement and said that the international terrorist was alive.

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Southeast Asia

BIFF names new chief

2015-04-16

[Anadolu] A day after the death of its founder and leader, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have named a successor. BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama said that Sheik Esmael Abubakar -- a.k.a. Kumander Bungos, the group's vice chairman for political affairs -- would succeed Ameril Umra Kato who died of a stroke on Tuesday. He said, "The group decided to have the 40-year-old Abubakar take over Kato's post." Mama called Kato's death a big loss, adding that the group would not become weaker without its founder. Sheik Abubakar is said to have studied in the Middle East, is an expert in Sharia law, and taken the title of sheik before serving as a brigade commander for the MILF, from which the BIFF split in 2008.

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