BIFF claims beheaded farmer in Midsayap a cop

ABS-CBN (Sep 26): BIFF claims beheaded farmer in Midsayap a cop

Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) spokesperson Abu Missry Mama on Thursday admitted that they were responsible for beheading farmer Ricarte Dionio in Midsayap, North Cotabato, but claimed that Dionio was not actually a farmer but a member of Philippine National Police's Special Action Force (PNP-SAF).

"Oo kami yun pero hindi lang siya ordinaryong magsasaka, isa siyang member ng PNP-SAF. Nakita namin ang ID niya at meron din siyang baril. Sila ang nagdadala ng warrant of arrest namin at lahat ng kakampi ng gubyerno ay kalaban namin kahit Muslim pa yan," Mama said.

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which is in peace talks with the Philippine government.

Mama also claimed responsibility for the series of attacks in other towns in North Cotabato, but denied involvement in the twin blast in Parang, Maguindanao on Tuesday which injured a 54-year-old woman.

"Oo kami yung nakasagupa ng AFP sa Midsayap, Tulunan, sa Pikit at sa Mlang. Pero hindi kami yung sa Buldon at yung nambomba sa Parang. Sinabi ko naman sayo na wala kaming kakayahang gumawa ng bomba," he said.

He said the BIFF stands firm on what they want. He added they will not stop attacking unless government troops step out of Mindanao.

"Yan lang ang gusto naming mangyari, umalis na sila sa Mindanao para wala na kaming mabaril. Yun ay [kung] gusto talaga nila ng peace sa Mindanao."

Mama also said they don't have plans of getting back to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) because the BIFF has a different perspective.

"Kung sila ang sasali sa amin, titingnan namin kung papasa sila, pero kung kami, no way! Iba ang pananaw nila, hindi Jihad yang ginagawa nila kasi nahahaluan na ng pulitika," he explained.

He also said the BIFF will never run out of resources in terms of firearms and ammunition. He said they have enough forces to fight until they attain independence.

"Paano kami mauubusan ng bala at baril eh diyan din kami bumibili at kumukuha sa mga sundalo."

"Hindi kami nananakit ng sibilyan pero hiling namin sa mga nakatira malapit sa mga detachment ng sundalo na umalis na sila para hindi na sila madamay pa at hindi kami matawag na mga terorista," Mama said.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/09/26/13/biff-claims-beheaded-farmer-midsayap-cop