The new armed group to emerge in Mindanao is led by a longtime Moro rebel who met several financiers in Egypt, where he reportedly obtained a post-graduate degree in one of Cairo's learning institutions.
Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, the spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the Justice for Islamic Movement, is headed by by Mohammad Ali Tambako, a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
Tambako allegedly obtained a master's degree in islamic studies from one of Egypt's learning institutions, Kakilala told GMA News Online in a text message.
Kakilala said it was in Cairo where he met individuals who would finance the BIFF.
He, however, could not confirm if the new breakaway group is now being supported by foreign sources.
"As of now, we have not established, pero dati kasi, si Ali Tambako, when he was in BIFF, siya 'yung kumukuha ng funds," Kakilala said.
The JIM is a splinter group of the BIFF, which in turn broke away from the MILF. The MILF has an existing peace agreement with the government.
Both the BIFF and the JIM are considered lawless elements by the government.
The MILF also started as a breakaway faction of the MNLF.
The JIM is a splinter group of the BIFF, which in turn broke away from the MILF. The MILF has an existing peace agreement with the government.
Both the BIFF and the JIM are considered lawless elements by the government.
The MILF also started as a breakaway faction of the MNLF.
Kakilala said the military classifies the new group as a lawless armed group, and no different from the BIFF.
"Same old threat," he said.
JIM was founded in November 2013 and reportedly has 70 members , who are involved in manufacturing improvised explosive devices.
Kakilala said that it was Tambako's group that was coddling bomb maker Basit Usman, a member of the bandit Abu Sayyaf Group
He said that the number of the group's followers could have increased as Usman "also [had] his own followers."
The military is in the middle of an all-out offensive versus the BIFF.
The military is in the middle of an all-out offensive versus the BIFF.
Kakilala, however, said that the AFP has operations against both the BIFF and JIM.
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