Troops capture BIFF commander in Cotabato

From the Daily Tribune (Apr 2): Troops capture BIFF commander in Cotabato

Government troops captured a commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter Special Operation Group (BIFF-SOG) during an operation in Cotabato City on Thursday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) announced yesterday.

Director Victor Deona, CIDG chief, identified the arrested BIFF leader as Zainudin Kawilan, who is wanted for double murder.

Kawilan was nabbed by detectives of CIDG-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under Supt. Jimmy Daza, together with the Philippine Army, PRO-ARMM, Cotabato City police station, and Regional Intelligence Unit-15.

The arrest was made by virtue of an arrest warrant against Kawilan who was collared at around 11:30 a.m. in Cotabato City.

Daza said that Kawilan is responsible in the series of harassment against military installation and the killing of military personnel in Salvo, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak (SPMS) box area.

According to Daza, Kawilan is also involved in gun-for-hire activities in Central Mindanao.

Only last February, BIFF elements engaged government forces in weeks of clashes in Maguindanao, particularly in Datu Salibu town where they attacked a government project.

It was not clear, however, if Kawilan was with the BIFF band that launched the attacks in Satu Salibu.

Branded as “peace spoiler,” the BIFF is a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is talking peace with the government.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/troops-capture-biff-commander-in-cotabato