Military vows to pursue drive vs BIFF, other armed groups

From the Manila Bulletin (Feb 10): Military vows to pursue drive vs BIFF, other armed groups

The military yesterday vowed to pursue law enforcement operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and other armed groups as another explosion rocked Central Mindanao Saturday night.

Col. Dickson Hermoso, the Philippine Army 6th Infantry Division (6ID) spokesman, said members of armed groups like the BIFF who have standing warrants for their arrest must be brought before the bar of justice.

Hermoso disclosed that Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Secretary Teresita Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) visited the division’s headquarters yesterday.

“Dun sa briefing namin kay Secretary Mar Roxas, we told him na tuloy-tuloy pa rin yung law enforcement operation pero hindi na katulad ng intensity nung nakaraang linggo,” Hermoso said.

“We will still go after BIFF members and leaders with standing warrant of arrest but under a normal law enforcement operation,” said Hermoso.

“But if they will regroup and launch another attack, then we will again launch an offensive,” he said.

The official said the BIFF has splintered into smaller groups after last week’s offensive wherein 52 members of the brigand group were killed.

“May mga lugar kaming mino-monitor, kung mag-ipon-ipon sila pasukin na naman namin,” said the 6ID spokesman.

He said Roxas and Deles would like to encourage the other groups “na sumama na sa bandwagon ng Bangsamoro para mabiyayaan din sila sakaling magkaroon na ng comprehensive agreement.”

He said the call is being made through the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other Muslim leaders.

When asked what is the rationale for making such call, Hermoso said: “So that no one will be left behind in case there will be a framework comprehensive agreement on Bangsamoro, whoever you are, whatever tribe you belong to.”

“Basta nasa Bangsamoro ka, kasama ka na mabiyayaan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hermoso said another explosion was reported around 8:45 p.m. Saturday at Km. 16 Barangay Ladia, Sultan Kudarat.

He said improvised bombs were believed planted by the BIFF at a tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in the area.

Fortunately, the explosion failed to destroy the tower, Hermoso said.

“Okay naman, hindi naman nagdulot ng brownout sa lugar,” said Hermoso, noting that it was the brigand group’s third attempt to knock down the tower.

http://www.mb.com.ph/military-vows-to-pursue-drive-vs-biff-other-armed-groups/