Govt wary of sensitive Mindanao situation in going after BIFF, Palace says

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 9): Govt wary of sensitive Mindanao situation in going after BIFF, Palace says

Malacanang said the military coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) through the ad hoc joint action group to ensure that the peace talks will not be affected by the recent violence in Mindanao.

The ad hoc joint action group is an effort of both the government and the MILF that seeks to interdict and isolate lawless elements that take refuge in or near MILF communities.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the military operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was done in the very limited time frame—only three days, she said in a media briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday.

“Nagpaalam sila for the operations particularly because merong ibang miyembro ang BIFF that may have been hiding in some areas kung saan may mga miyembro ng MILF. So iniiwasan nila ang mga ganitong pangyayari,” Valte said.

“We’ll leave it to the AFP spokesperson to give you more details on the progress of the three days… I checked with Colonel Ramon Zagala kanina and tapos na ‘yung operations primarily dahil magsisimula na ang Ramadan.”

The MILF said some of their fighters were affected by the military operations and the Muslim group also voiced opposition against the offensives considering the onset of Ramadan.

Clashes between government forces and members of the BIFF started over the weekend and the military said it had captured the BIFF stronghold in the villages of Damalabas in Datu Piang and Ganta in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, all in Maguindanao.

The military reported at least 30 casualties in the side of the BIFF and five in government forces.

The BIFF, led by Ameril Umbra Kato, is a splinter group of the MILF, which is talking peace with the government.

Kato figured in several attacks on communities, including one in 2008 following the botched signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF.

The group also staged simultaneous attacks against the military and civilian communities in August 2011.

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