Army: BIFF are criminals, not rebels, no links with JI

From GMA News (Feb 5): Army: BIFF are criminals, not rebels, no links with JI

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is considered by the military as criminal group and not rebels.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman for the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division, said Wednesday they continue to clear areas in Maguindanao where the BIFF had conducted attacks.

"We treat them (BIFF)... a mere criminal group," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

He also said the BIFF's ranks are growing thinner though there may be armed groups "sympathizing" with it.

The BIFF is a splinter group of the MILF, which signed last Jan. 25 an annex paving the way for a comprehensive peace agreement.

The "normalization" annex dealt with decommissioning the armed wing of the MILF and outlines steps to disarm private armies in the proposed Bangsamoro area.

BIFF members had been linked to recent attacks in Maguindanao, including one involving an improvised explosive device that injured a television news team last Feb. 1.

Last weekend, the military claimed to have captured key facilities of the BIFF.

Sympathy groups

But as of Wednesday, Hermoso said: "(Sa Maguindanao), may mga other armed group na nagsi-sympathize sa kanila."

In the meantime, he said the military will continue normal law enforcement operations. But he stressed Maguindanao as a whole remains "generally peaceful."

"Patuloy po yung pagki-clearing natin sa mga kalsada (We continue to conduct clearing operations in the streets)," he said (https://twitter.com/dzbb/status/430817529049526272).

A separate report by dzBB's Tuesday Niu quoted Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs head Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala as saying the BIFF may be in hiding as of now.

Zagala was quoted in the report as saying the BIFF's members may be mingling with civilians to evade detection.

However, he downplayed speculations the BIFF has formed alliances, at this time, with the regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, some of whose members are believed to be operating in the southern Philippines.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/347044/news/nation/army-biff-are-criminals-not-rebels-no-links-with-ji