MILF vows war vs terror, sides with gov’t

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 28): MILF vows war vs terror, sides with gov’t

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officially declared that massive manhunt against ISIS-inspired armed group in this province will continue as it expressed support to government’s campaign against terrorism.

Ghazali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, on Wednesday said the MILF has no choice but to protect the gains of the Mindanao peace process and the peace agreement it entered into with the Philippine government.

The MILF’s Task Force Al-Ittihad (Unity) has been fighting an ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) Esmael Abdulmalik faction after it tried to influence MILF-identified communities in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Both sides have already lost more than 50 fighters in a protracted war that pitted former Moro comrade in arms.

The BIFF broke away from MILF in 2008 after it disagreed with the peace process the MILF had been working with Manila.

“To protect our people, to protect the gains of the peace process, we have to do it,” Jaafar told reporters.

“We side with the government in the Marawi siege and in the fight against Maute and Abu Sayyaf, we will also side with the government,” he added.

Recently, Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Abdulrahman Udasan issued the fatwa (ruling) on the MILF defense position against intrusion by any terror group, even the BIFF who used to be MILF members.

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal earlier issued a statement admitting the MILF has to fight the BIFF “because it was trying to destroy Moro communities through its twisted ideology.”

“We are obliged to defend and protect our people,” Iqbal said.

A streamer posted in one of Maguindanao’s major highway read: “Terrorist is the enemy of Islam.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1010998