The waging of Holy War in
This was
disclosed to the Manila Bulletin here by Abu Misry Mama, BIFF spokesperson in
an interview.
“Hindi naman
nangangahulugan na kung mamatay ang isa sa amin ay hihinto na ito kasi hindi
ito order ni Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato. Dumaan lang ito sa kanya kasi order ito
ni Allah (Death among our ranks does not mean that we will stop because this is
not an order only from Ustadz Amril Umbra Kato but from God),” Misry Mama
pointed out.
Kato died at 2
a.m. on Tuesday somewhere in Guindulungan in Maguindanao province and was
buried in the same place at around 7 a.m. of the same date.
Misry Mama said
Kato was replaced by Sheik Ismail Abubakar.
Abubakar is the
former vice chief of staff of BIFF and eventually replaced Mohamad Ali Tambaco
as the group’s vice chairman for political affairs, he pointed out.
Misry Mama did
not give details as to the plans and calls of the new leader of BIFF especially
on military activities.
In February this
year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) launched its all-out offensive
against the BIFF that ended by the last week of March.
The military
claimed they killed more than 70 BIFF fighters during the offensives, including
the group’s known leaders.
In one of the
fierce fighting last March 29, three known commanders of the BIFF were killed –
Abeh Salih alias Commander Bisaya, Nords Indong alias Bhuto, and Salaudin
Indong.
The Indong
brothers were siblings of Mohaimen Indong alias Commander Kagi Karialan, one of
the known leaders of BIFF in Maguindanao.
In another
interview on Wednesday morning, April 15, Abu Misry turned down the claim of
the AFP that the BIFF will weaken further with the death of Kato.
The AFP said that
Kato is the source of inspiration among the BIFF members in the area.
“Si Ustadz Ameril
Umbra Kato lang ang nawala pero ang mga turo ng Islam at ang aming mga gawain
ay magpapatuloy (Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato is already gone but the teachings of
Islam and our works will continue),” Abu Misry pointed out.
He added that the
BIFF is not loyal to a single person but to the Quran and its teachings, the
reason why they will continue their aspirations despite the death of Kato.
Misry Mama also
denied the claim of the AFP that Kagi Karialan will replace Kato as head of the
BIFF.
“Si Karialan ay
vice chairman ng military affairs. Si Sheik Abubakar ang pumalit kay Ustadz
Ameril Umbra Kato kasi siya ang vice chairman for political affairs (Karialan
is the vice chairman for military affairs. It was Sheik Abubakar who replaced
Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato because he is the vice chairman for political
affairs),” Misry Mama clarified.
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