BIFF men hiding in MILF area; military forced to stop pursuit ops

From Malaya Business Insight (Jul 18): BIFF men hiding in MILF area; military forced to stop pursuit ops

GOVERNMENT forces were forced to halt operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao Saturday after BIFF members sought refuge inside a community of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Col. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the Army’s 601st Brigade who is supervising the military operations, said talks with the MILF are ongoing to relocate their members from the community at the boundary of Datu Unsay and Shariff Aguak towns so that the military operation against the BIFF can resume.

“They ran toward the MILF community,” he said of the BIFF members numbering about 80. 

He also said the MILF fighters coddling the BIFF members were acting on their own.

MILF leaders could not be reached for comment.

Government troops have been pursuing the criminal group since Wednesday last week. Thirty-three BIFF members have been killed and 10 others injured, according to the military citing intelligence information. On the government side, seven soldiers have been wounded, including one in serious condition.

The BIFF, composed of about 300 men, is blamed for a number of atrocities in Central Mindanao, including bombings. It is supposed to be a breakaway group of the MILF. It has for its leaders former MILF members who are opposed to holding peace talks with government. The Aquino government signed a peace pact with the MILF in March 2014.

In January 2015, MILF fighters aided by BIFF members clashed with police commandos running after terrorist personalities in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, and killed 44 commandos. The MILF has justified engaging the commandos in a firefight in its territory, saying government did not coordinate the anti-terrorist operation with the MILF.

Fighting between the soldiers and the BIFF broke out last Wednesday in Datu Unsay town, leading to sporadic fighting. The military employed attack helicopters and mortar assets against the BIFF in the operation.

“On the fourth day of our engagement, they are already on the run because they are running short of ammunition and they have incurred a lot of casualties,” Sobejana said,.

“They are now taking shelter with MILF members who are their relatives,” Sobejana said, referring to the BIFF men. “They ran (to the MILF community), causing us to stop our hot pursuit,” said Sobejana.

Sobejana said they ceased their operation so that the peace process with the MILF would not  be negatively affected.

“Of course, it’s to save the peace process,” said Sobejana, explaining the halt in the operation. “If we insist (on pursuing the BIFF), it will lead to animosity between the Armed Forces and the MILF. That is what we are trying to avoid,” he said.

Sobejana said government troops are still in the vicinity of the MILF community. “We are not pushing forward… We are holding our ground, we are still in the area. We didn’t leave,” he said.

Sobejana said he is scheduled to meet with MILF officials in Cotabato City today to further discuss the presence of the BIFF members in the MILF community.

Asked if talks include the conduct of military operation inside the MILF community, he said: “That’s included. We are not asking permission. We are telling them that we are doing law enforcement operation or security operation or focused military operation.”

Sobejana said the MILF is supposed to help the military in ridding “spoilers” of the peace process, including the BIFF. However, he said “blood is thicker than water so they cannot enforce this 100 percent.”

Sobejana believes that the coddling of the BIFF members was an individual act of the MILF members and not sanctioned by the MILF leadership. He said MILF commanders had told him that the MILF leadership also wants to get rid of the BIFF.

“I cannot say it an organization decision; it’s an individual act,” said Sobejana of the harboring of the BIFF men at the MILF community. “They (MILF commanders) said they also want an end of the BIFF. That is their statement,” he said.

“As far as the leadership of the MILF is concerned, they don’t want to accommodate the BIFF but blood is thicker than water. Some MILF members are related, they are brothers, fathers or sons of those in the BIFF,” he said.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/biff-men-hiding-milf-area-military-forced-stop-pursuit-ops