The private armed group of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have been allies since 2009 after members of the private militia were implicated in the Maguindanao massacre, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Monday.
In an interview with GMA News TV’s News to Go, military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala said members of Ampatuan’s private army had sought refuge with the BIFF faction led by former vice chairman Mohamad Ali Tambako because some of the group’s members were related to him.
“They joined the BIFF under Ali Tambako because some of their members had filial relations with Tambako. Di naman sila pwedeng sumali sa MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) dahil may rido (clan war) si Gov. Ampatuan at ‘yung isa sa mga MILF base command,” he said.
The BIFF is a breakaway organization of the MILF.
Kakilala said members of the Ampatuan armed group remained with the BIFF even when Tambako left the organization.
“When Tambako left the BIFF, members of the Ampatuan private army [remained] with the BIFF under Tambako. It doesn’t mean they joined his group,” he said.
Tambako, a suspected terrorist, was arrested in General Santos City last week.
The AFP has identified the Ampatuan patriarch’s private army as one of the armed groups involved in a firefight with the Philippine National Police Special Action Force in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao on Jan. 25.
Over 60 individuals, including 44 police commandos, were killed in the clash, which followed a SAF operation against high-profile terrorists Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan and Abdul Basit Usman.
Bandits
Bandits
But even before the Mamasapano clash, Kakilala said Ampatuan’s armed men has been the subject of law enforcement operations because of their alleged involvement in the Maguindanao massacre.
“We consider them bandits. As long as they’re armed, they’re common criminals, they commit murder, extortion and [other crimes], we go after them. We’ll assist the PNP in that matter,” he said.
The Maguindanao massacre resulted in the deaths of 58 people, including 32 journalists, who were in a convoy headed to the Commission on Elections office to register Esmael Mangudadatu as a candidate in the 2010 gubernatorial race.
The Ampatuan patriarch is the principal suspect in the massacre case and is already in government custody.
Kakilala said Tambako’s arrest serves as a cause for the Ampatuan armed group to be demoralized.
“This (Tambako’s arrest) will demoralize the former armed group of Ampatuan because they will be at a loss if they will join the group of Karyalan. That’s something we will look into,” he said, referring to the leader of another BIFF faction.
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