‘MILF commanders in alliance with BIFF’

From the Manila Times (Feb 12): ‘MILF commanders in alliance with BIFF’

A FORMER Philippine National Police (PNP) intelligence officer on Thursday claimed that lawless Muslim groups have forged tactical alliances with key leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Retired Police Director Rodolfo Mendoza said these Islamic militants have links with the Khilafa Islamiya Movement (KIM) that has been blamed in past bombing incidents in Mindanao.

A former director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Mendoza was the one who uncovered “Oplan Bujinka,” a plot by al-Qaeda militants against Pope John Paul II when he visited the country in 1995.

He said these militants forged alliances with key MILF commanders who were dissatisfied with Chairman Al Haj Murad’s peace negotiations with the government.

These groups, which are referred to by the MILF as Base Commands, include the armed elements involved in the deadly Mamasapano incident on January 25.

Mendoza said members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who engaged the Special Action Force (SAF) commandos reportedly sought reinforcement from the MILF’s 105th Base Command under Zakaria Goma.

The BIFF is a splinter group of the MILF, particularly from the 105th Base Command. Family ties exist and are honored among the combatants of these two armed groups, according to Mendoza.

Previous reports said Goma eventually helped enforce a ceasefire between his men and government security forces.

Mendoza said the Islamic militants have alliances with commanders of the MILF’s 105th, 106th and 118th Base Commands that are based in Mamasapano, which are the training bases of the Jemaan Islamiah and BIFF.

“BIFF commander Umbra ‘Ameril’ Kato and Goma are very close. Majority of the members of BIFF are from the 105th Base Command,” Mendoza said.

These groups, he added, also have alliances with Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) commander Isnilon Hapilon who is based in Basilan province.

Mendoza said the MILF Central Committee is tolerating the alliances between the 105th Base Command and the Islamist terrorists.

“They cannot control Umbra Kato,” he said.

Mendoza warned that a breakdown in the peace process between the government and the MILF could strengthen the Islamists’ influence on the more moderate factions.

http://www.manilatimes.net/milf-commanders-in-alliance-with-biff/162621/