Wednesday, November 19, 2014

BIFF reportedly seizes sitio in Cotabato province

From GMA News (Nov 20): BIFF reportedly seizes sitio in Cotabato province

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters have reportedly seized a sitio in Midsayap town in Cotabato province, a television report said Thursday.
A report on GMA News TV's "News TV Live" said some 300 BIFF fighters entered Sitio Bentad in Barangay Baliki in Midsayap, and drove away the civilians there.
 
After the attack, they reportedly set up a camp in the area.
 
But while the BIFF also tried to enter another sitio, they were met by the "Reform Ilaga Movement" group, and a firefight ensued.
 
The firefight lasted about an hour before both groups withdrew when they saw soldiers arriving.
 
Meanwhile, the Reform Ilaga Movement said they are ready for another attack by the BIFF.
 
A separate report on Bombo Radyo said the attacks occurred before dawn Thursday.
 
The BIFF is a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is in peace efforts with the government.
 
Headed by Ameril Umbra Kato, the BIFF had led attacks in Mindanao in 2008 after the Supreme Court thumbed down a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain.

Ilaga movement

In 2013, a report on the Philippine Star said the Ilaga  (Visayan for rat) movement was a Philippine Catholic extremist militia predominantly composed of Visayan groups mixed deep in Shamanism and amulets that operated, had been led and largely used by the defunct Philippine Constabulary as a militia force during the 1970s.

The vigilante group "Bag-ong Ilaga" (new or reformed Ilaga) surfaced in 2005, declaring their mission is to eliminate "terrorists."

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/388940/news/regions/biff-reportedly-seizes-sitio-in-cotabato-province

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.