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Southeast Asia

23 Moro militants killed in three-day assault

2017-03-20

[Inquirer] The Philippine military said air and ground assaults on hideouts of Moro militants suspected of providing shelter to terrorists had killed at least 21 militants and injured 26 others. The offensives took place from March 13 to 16. Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, said the attacks only led to displacement of villagers. He said, "The bombs only hit trees and the marshland. We were not there when the bombings occurred. We are not affected, only the civilians were displaced." "We are still here," Mama said, denying that the BIFF was providing shelter to terrorists. Early Saturday morning, five weapons were recovered following a brief clash between troops and the BIFF in Raja Buayan, Maguindanao. Military spokesman John Encinas said soldiers also found manuals for bomb-making that indicated the presence of terrorists in the area. The militants and their trainees were allegedly targeting power lines and other civilian installations in Mindanao. Encinas said the group that the soldiers encountered in Raja Buayan was among those trained by slain international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was killed in Maguindanao, in January 2015. The group with links to Marwan has been training local rebels, including members of the Maute Group, to make bombs. Test missions include bombing power pylons and public places.

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Southeast Asia

Three BIFF rebels killed in Maguindanao clash

2016-02-09

[Rappler] Three Philippine soldiers were injured as they clashed Saturday, February 6, with an undetermined number of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao province. Lieutenant Colonel Warlito Limet said the fierce firefight occurred simultaneously in the villages of Butilen, Andabit, and Tee, where he said that three militants were reportedly killed. Limet said three of his men, including a captain, were wounded. The militants also set on fire to heavy equipment as they retreated. The fighting began on Friday, when BIFF rebels attacked troops securing bridge construction in the town. BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama confirmed their forces were involved in the clash. He said, "We were only forced to fire our weapons because the soldiers were in our location. We have just strengthened our forces to continue our fight for an Islamic state."

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Southeast Asia

BIFF fires grenades at police, military posts

2015-04-20

[GMA News] The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) fired grenade launchers upon Philippine Special Action Forces (SAF) and Philippine Army posts in Shariff Aguak and Datu Hoffer Ampatuan towns in Maguindanao Sunday night. The first attack came at 6:30 p.m. when two grenades were fired at the 43rd Special Action Company's office in Shariff Aguak The office is near the provincial police office. Policemen at the post returned fire, forcing the BIFF to disengage and withdraw. Twenty minutes later, another six grenades were fired at the nearby company command post. Policemen, who were now on alert after the first attack, immediately returned fire and again forced the BIFF to withdraw. The third attack came at around 7 p.m., this time grenades were fired at the Philippine Army's 2nd Mechanized Battalion stationed in Datu Salibo town. Later that evening, BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama claimed responsibility for the attacks. Security forces believe the attacks were ordered by the new BIFF commander, Commander Bungos.

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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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Southeast Asia

Twenty houses torched in continuing MILF-BIFF clashes

2015-02-19

[Gulf Today] Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front set fire to twenty houses in at least seven villages in North Cotabato province in Mindanao that forced at least 15,000 people to flee their homes. Officer Norudin Solaiman, the chief police investigator, said the arson stemmed from continuing clashes between the MILF and its secessionist group the BIFF. He said the clashes, which already resulted in the deaths of an MILF commander and six other combatants, also forced hundreds of families to evacuate. Solaiman stressed the clashes between the MILF and the BIFF were not caused by the killing of 44 elite police commandos on January 25. Instead, he said the clashes stemmed from rido (clan war) between the slain MILF commander and his BIFF rival for control of villages in North Cotabato and Maguindanao. BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama promised they would get revenge as he accused Governor Emmylou Mendoza-Talino of North Cotabato of supporting the MILF in their continuing clashes. Mama warned these would include attacks on civilian populations in North Cotabato's "vulnerable" towns and cities.

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Southeast Asia

BIFF threatens more attacks

2015-02-05

[Manila Bulletin] The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) yesterday threatened more attacks and called on local residents to avoid military and police outposts or checkpoints in Maguindanao. On Monday afternoon, BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama warned, "To all civilians, Christians or Muslims, living near military checkpoints, leave now because 100 percent we will launch attacks against them. Leave now so you won’t be caught in crossfire." However, Abul Khayr Alonto, elected chairman of the surviving original members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) central committee, said the Philippines cannot afford another wide-scale armed conflict in Mindanao. He said, "Those who call for all-out-war (after the Mamasapano incident) are those who in their nightmares even don’t know the situation of war." Misry Mama said BIFF forces are on standby ready to launch attacks and, if attacked by government forces, ready to defend itself. He also confirmed the movement of BIFF forces along Cotabato-General Santos City National Highway two days ago that nearly led to a clash with the military. But Misry Mama clarified that they were securing some top BIFF leaders who were invited to attend a feast in Talayan area. The BIFF also promised not to participate in any government investigation in connection with the massacre of 44 SAF commandos. Misry Mama said, "We will not subject ourselves to investigation. If the military enters enter here to investigate, we will shoot them. We are okay if civilians will investigate." He also confirmed that the SAF operation was really meant to get Zulkilfi bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman, but denied coddling the two wanted men. Misry Mama also said that the BIFF received reports that an American was killed during the Mamasapano slaughter. He said the presence of Americans in Mindanao is to the BIFF's advantage as they will no longer have to go the United State to wage war against them. He said, "It’s good that the Americans are here. We will fight against them here. We need not spend money to go to America and fight them there."

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Southeast Asia

Mayor ties BIFF to Mindanao blast

2015-01-03

[Gulf Today] A mayor on Friday blamed members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) for a deadly New Year’s Eve bombing in North Cotabato as the number of fatalities rose to two when one of the four seriously injured victims died. One woman died at the scene and another woman died at the hospital early on Friday morning due to severe injuries she received during the blast that also injured 33 others. Mayor Joselito Pinol of M’lang said, "I have concrete evidence that could prove the BIFF was behind the explosion," where an improvised bomb was detonated on Thursday afternoon at a public market crowded with residents making last-minute New Years shopping. Pinol revealed that earlier on Tuesday, police nabbed a BIFF suspect linked to the bombing of a pool hall at the height of a town festival on November 23 that killed three high school students and injured 25 others. BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama denied Pinol's claim in a text message, saying, "We don’t have a hand in the explosion but we know where the bomb came from." That's some denial. The BIFF warned it would continue to oppose the agreement signed in March by the government and the MILF that called for the establishment of a new Bangsamoro autonomous region.

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Southeast Asia

BIFF behind Bukidnon bus blast

2014-12-13

Militants in the southern Philippines are suspected of carrying out a bus bombing that claimed ten lives. A military spokesman said the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) are thought to have staged Tuesday’s attack, which also left 42 injured The BIFF denied involvement. The bomb was similar to one used in a November attack on another vehicle belonging to the same bus company, which the BIFF is believed to have orchestrated. Major Ezra Balagtey said, "The bomb/IED is made of an 81 mm mortar round (that was) cellphone-activated. The same bomb signature with the IED explosion that happened last November." BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama said, "Bombing civilians would not benefit us. The (military) is fabricating stories again to malign us." Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said it was likely that the BIFF carried out the bombing. He said, "The BIFF is fully engaged in offensive military operations. They are heightening their military activities right now, even their bombing operations. Their bombing activities are commonly mixed with their criminal activities (such as extortion)." In another fresh outbreak of violence in Maguindanao province in Mindanao, at least five people including a village councilman, his wife and two of their relatives were killed in an ambush. Meanwhile, Philippine rescue teams have been struggling to reach upland communities on an eastern island which took the brunt of a recent typhoon amid security fears in the area known as a hotbed of Maoist rebels.

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Southeast Asia

BIFF militants kill third soldier in Mindanao

2014-10-04

Suspected members of a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) killed another soldier, the third in as many days, in Mindanao. Colonel Marlon Abo said the victim, a corporal belonging to his unit, was in the town of Datu Piang, Maguindanao when two armed men on a motorcycle fired at him, killing him on the spot on Thursday morning. Abo said the killers fled with the victim’s motorcycle and wallet. On Tuesday morning, armed men gunned down two Army soldiers in front of the Catholic church also in Datu Piang where they were lighting devotional candles to mark the birthday of one of the victims. The two soldiers were unarmed and in civilian clothes when they were shot and killed. Abo blamed members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a breakaway group from the MILF, for the three killings. He pointed out that BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama earlier warned they would not stop their attacks on government security forces in their effort to establish an independent Islamic state in Mindanao.

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Southeast Asia

BIFF rejects invite to Philippine congressional hearing

2014-09-20

The outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Friday again rejected an invitation to participate in congressional hearings on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). The group's spokesman, Abu Misry Mama, said, "We cannot join in any peace process that falls short of our bid for an independent Moro state." Representative Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the House committee now working on the proposed law, earlier said they want the BIFF's reclusive chieftain, Imam Ameril Ombra Kato and Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front to participate in the BBL deliberations. Mama said, "We better keep on fighting the military in the field than engage in any hearing on that draft BBL. That is purely an initiative of the MILF and the government," adding, "We can only tell Congressman Rodriguez thanks for the invitation. None from the BIFF can join the hearings." Kato, now debilitated, started as chief of the MILF's 105th Base Command, but was kicked out in 2010 due to insubordination and other offenses. Kato, who studied Islamic theology in Saudi Arabia in the 1970's as a scholar of then President Ferdinand Marcos, had issued a communiqué reaffirming their group's firm stand against the GPH-MILF peace initiative. The draft BBL, once enacted into law and ratified, will pave the way for the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a new, more politically empowered Bangsamoro self-governing entity based on the final peace compact between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

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Southeast Asia

BIFM members want to join ISIS

2014-08-31

There are members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) in Saudi Arabia who plan to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). A reliable source in Jeddah said they have been holding planning meetings. But so far none has been able to get to Syria from Jeddah because Saudi officials have clamped down, particularly with the arrest early this week of eight Saudi nationals who were accused of recruiting members for a foreign extremist group. "Please don’t mention my name,” said the source. Abu Misry Mama, spokesman for the BIFM/BIFF confirmed some of his followers are in Saudi Arabia and some other Middle East countries. He said there were no reports yet whether any of the BIFF members were able to infiltrate Syria or Iraq. Mama said, "But it is not impossible there may already be some of our members there (with the ISIS)," citing the mubaaya (pact) that BIFM Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Ustadhz Ismael Abubakar and ISIS chieftain Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. Mama said his group will certainly provide fighters to the ISIS if asked.

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Southeast Asia

Moro militants admit alliance with ISIS

2014-08-23

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) confirmed that it has forged an alliance with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. However, BIFM spokesman Abu Misry Mama said they have not sent any of their members to Iraq or Syria to fight alongside ISIS, or even to train there. Earlier, former president Fidel Ramos said around 100 Filipino Muslims had gone to Iraq and Syria to help ISIS. Mama said, "There is no truth to the reports that we have sent fighters to Syria and Iraq. We do not need to train there because our training grounds in Mindanao are enough already." He said members of the BIFM's armed-wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), did not need foreign training, adding, "In fact, there are also no foreigners in our camps to train us because we can train on our own." While denying the BIFM has sent fighters to Iraq and Syria, Mama said an alliance had indeed been formed between ISIS and BIFM. He said the alliance was finalized through the use of mobile phones and the Internet in July. He said it was BIFM vice chair for political affairs Sheikh Ismail Abu Bakr and the group's Islamic Supreme Council chair, identified only as Kuti, who formalized the alliance. Mama said, "There was also a time that they directly communicated with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In the alliance, we have agreed that we are brothers under the same sky… that if one finger is hurt the entire body will feel the pain." But Mama said his organization did not financially benefit from the alliance. He said, "If we will ask them for money they might send us millions but we are not asking for any." Mama said BIFM funds come mostly from "supportive businessmen and politicians". He said Moro communities also keep the BIFM alive by giving what they could afford. This is not taxation, Mama said, but a "required charity contribution" by the communities to "fund the jihad". "For example, if you till the soil and you harvest 10 sacks you give one sack to the mujahideens," Mama said. Reacting to the ISIS beheading, Mama said it must have been strictly guided by Islamic principles. He said, "You cannot just cut hands and heads because you want to. It is being done as part of a judicial process. Your hands will only be cut if you steal and the beheading is only done to those who killed people as a crime." He said for example, the BIFM had to expel one of its top leaders for the beheading of two civilians in September 2013. Mama said one of those beheaded, 31-year-old Ricarte Dionio, was a policeman — a legitimate target. But he said beheading him was inappropriate and a violation of the rules of the BIFM. He said this caused then BIFM vice chair for political affairs, Muhammad Ali Tambako, to be expelled from the group. Mama said, "The man was a legitimate target but the beheading was unnecessary. What is worse is that the man was beheaded even if he was dead already."

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