New rebel group sprouts from infighting in BIFF

From the Daily Tribune (Mar 6): New rebel group sprouts from infighting in BIFF
 

The emergence of a new rebel group called Justice for Islamic Movement (JIM) is a mere product of an internal squabble between two senior officials of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) after its founding chieftain Ameril Umbra Kato suffered a stroke a few years ago.

Brig. Gen. Joselito Kakilala, newly installed spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), yesterday said that the differences between Kagi Karialan, Kato’s chief of staff, and Mohammad Ali Tambako, BIFF finance officer, led to the birth of JIM.

Initially, Tambako took the helm at BIFF but was immediately eased out after he was criticized by Karialan for the atrocities committed by the BIFF against farmers. According to Kakilala, the feud between Karialan and Tambako worsened in 2013 when Karialan was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) and blamed Tambako.

Tambako went on to establish JIM in 2013.

However, Kakilala stressed that there are still strong ties between the BIFF and the JIM, citing Tambako’s close relationship with Kato.

“It is one and the same group. It was only a product of rivalry between Tambako and Kagi Karialan, the chief of staff of the BIFF,” said Kakilala in a press briefing.

Tambako, a Cairo-educated Muslim scholar, is a nephew of Ameril Umbra Kato, the founder of the BIFF.

The AFP also downplayed the threat posed by JIM as a group.

The military estimated Tambako’s group as composed of about 70 active members.

The JIM is currently coddling the group of Basit Usman, including the five foreign nationals spotted in Central Mindanao.

“There’s no problem, they’re coddling terrorists. They are bandits, still same old threat,” said Kakilala.

Kakilala said that the JIM is existing through its extortion activities.
He said the military has not established any foreign funding of JIM.

The AFP spokesman said the all-out offensive operations against the JIM and BIFF are continuing but there was no reported contact with the group during the past days.

“As of yesterday (Wednesday), they are still on the run,” said Kakilala.
“We are optimistic our offensive operation will have a positive impact…we will degrade their capability,” he added.

Kakilala said all of the displaced families in Pikit, North Cotabato have already returned to their homes, while 70 percent of the families who left their homes in Pagalungan, Maguindanao, have gone back to their residences.

Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano also bolstered reports on the alleged continuing recruitment of new members by the MILF despite forging a peace agreement with the government.

Cayetano’s latest revelation came three days after claiming that he has evidence showing that the group had coddled slain Malaysian terrorist and bomb maker Zulkipli bin Hir alias Marwan.

The senator revealed having received information that the MILF is conducting “massive recruitment” not for its political party but as combantants for its armed wing.

Cayetano, who was in Zamboanga City on Thursday attending the 40th day mass for Capt. Ryan Pabalinas, one of the fallen Special Action Force (SAF) members in the Mamasapano operation, appealed to his colleagues not to rush the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The senator, last Tuesday, revealed that he has in his possession some evidence proving that the MILF indeed coddled Marwan and that the government knew about this.

Such information also belies the government’s claim that they were unaware of the alleged ties or links of Marwan with the MILF.

“At a proper time, in a few days, we will conclude our research but as early as now I can tell you we have evidence that government knew the MILF protected and coddled Marwan. This is the reason why the BBL is being rushed since as we get to know more, more and more people ask if we can trust the MILF,” he asked.

The MILF leaders, the senator said, are also proving themselves to be defiant and refuse to surrender those involved in the Jan. 25 encounter and this does not bode well with the MILF, as they cannot not even hold their members accountable for the incident.

Giving justice to the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) operatives in the Mamasapano massacre should be the priority, vis-à-vis the ongoing peace process, he added.

Cayetano also pointed out that during the Senate hearings, the MILF has not given any credible and concrete answers especially on its alleged links to terrorists.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. yesterday said his committee will not be stampeded into rushing the deliberations on the BBL , just so they could immediately wrap up the process following Malacañang’s insistence to pass the bill by June.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, maintained that his action on the measure will be based on his intention to craft a good law and not driven by a “deadline” set by other people.

He stood his ground even as the House and Senate leadership had agreed to pass the BBL by June before the end of the current second regular session of the 16th Congress.

“Haste could be a fatal waste. The BBL is not a magic pill to stop the war in Mindanao, although it’s an important element in the quest for lasting peace. I will try to meet the proposed deadline. But I will not sacrifice the necessity of getting it right,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the need to remedy the constitutional infirmities of the present BBL draft is one of the main reasons why prudence is the better course of action than merely trying to meet an obviously short timetable.

He noted that during a hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, many of the legal luminaries stated that several provisions of the BBL are unconstitutional.

Marcos suspended public hearings on the BBL after the January 25 Mamasapano clash where 44 SAF commandos were killed by the MILF and BIFF.

But before the BBL hearings can resume Marcos said he needs to wait for the reports of the inquiries on the Mamasapano incident conducted separately by the police, MILF, and the committee report of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Senator Grace Poe.

Likewise, Marcos said there are other practical considerations on governance and administration that need to be clarified.

The AFP is also struggling to bring back normalcy in Central Mindanao, requiring three more days to flush out the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao province.

Kakilala said AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has extended the conduct of clearing operations before a detailed operational assessment is done for the military’s future actions.

“We would like to accomplish the clearing operations as fast as we can so that we can bring normalcy to the affected communities,” said Kakilala in a press briefing.

“Once we have flush out the armed bandits and terrorists from the affected areas, we will facilitate the safe return of the civilians back to their homes,” added Kakilala.

He cited the support extended by the MILF on the ongoing military operations along the Salvo, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak box –a known stronghold of the MILF.

The AFP spokesman said that the MILF has voluntarily relocated from the affected areas.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/new-rebel-group-sprouts-from-infighting-in-biff