Army downplays BIFF's role in Cotabato City grenade attacks

From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 17): Army downplays BIFF's role in Cotabato City grenade attacks
 

Military and police authorities here have downplayed the claim of lawless armed group it carried out the series of grenade attacks in the city targeting government forces.

Colonel Ranulfo Sevilla, chief of the Army Special Forces Battalion, on Tuesday said the statement of Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) that his group was behind three grenade attacks in Cotabato City over the weekend, was a "figment of his imagination."

Sevilla laughed off Mama's claim and pointed to the group of Ruben Montes, also known as "Black Moro" as the culprits in city bombings.

Mama said the BIFF area of operation covers Cotabato City.

In jest, Sevilla said it was not surprising if the BIFF would claim responsibility in the death of national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.

But Sevilla stressed the grenade attacks in the city that happened on Saturday night and Sunday night were all carried out by Montes' group. Montes was arrested in September after his group engaged the Army special forces in a shootout.

The shootout led to the death of Montes' wife and two of his men.

Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr. described Montes as "leader of a gun-for-hire and crime syndicate engaged in illegal drug pushing."

Four persons were hurt, including two soldiers, when two men riding tandem on a motorbike fired a rifle grenade toward a military vehicle on patrol along Sinsuat Avenue at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 14.

About 30 minutes earlier, two men on a motorbike also fired rifle grenade toward the compound of Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) which triggered city-wide brownout.

Sevilla said the blast at power firm compound and the attack on Army vehicle were related. On Sunday night, a grenade was found in front of Cafe Florencio Binggo center along Sinsuat Avenue.

"He wanted to get back at the soldiers because his wife and two followers died during legitimate police operation," Sevilla said, explaining why Montes was spearheading a campaign against the Army.

Beside Montes, the Army is also suspecting the involvement of big time illegal drug syndicates in the city which the military dismantled last month.

"We have indicators illegal drug pushers were involved in the bombings," he said.

Senior Supt. Raul Supiter, Cotabato City police chief, said police investigation also consider Montes as the man behind the bombing spree as well as crime syndicates and illegal drug pushers who recently suffered blows from the Army and the police with a series of arrests and dismantling of drug dens.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=828257