Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Abu Sayyaf join forces in Basilan

From the Mindanao Examiner (Aug 22, 2023): Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Abu Sayyaf join forces in Basilan

'Police say Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Abu Sayyaf behind deadly ambush in Ungkaya Pukan town'

BASILAN - Police in the Muslim autonomous region have linked both the Abu Sayyaf and the former rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front in a deadly attack against a convoy of security forces escorting a town vice mayor in the southern province of Basilan.

The revelation came out days after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front surrendered August 17 two of its fighters involved in the August 12 ambush of Vice Mayor Ahmadin Barahim in Unkaya Pukan town’s Ulitan village. Barahim was unhurt from the attack, but two security personnel were killed and seven other soldiers wounded in the attack.

“The victims from 64th Infantry Battalion and Joint Peace Security Team Sumisip, who are on board an AFP KM (military truck) and white Toyota Hilux vehicle (pickup truck) was ambushed by the identified 7 Moro Islamic Liberation Front-BIAF (Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces) and ASG members using assorted high powered firearms,” the regional police, under Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, said.

“The Police Regional Office (PRO) BAR (Bangsamoro Autonomous region) collectively condemns this act of lawlessness and aggression displayed by these lawless individuals. This outraging incident which has a detrimental impact on civilian lives in the area, their safety, and well-being will not be taken lightly by this PRO,” it added.

Police said it filed murder charges and multiple murder charges against the attackers. The revelation bolstered suspicion that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front  and Abu Sayyaf have forged an alliance in Basilan and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front is harboring the local terrorist group allied with ISIS.

“The PRO under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza assures a speedy resolution of this case. Rest assured that at the soonest possible time, all involved in this incident will be dealt with accordingly and that justice shall be served to the victims of this atrocity,” police said.

Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, commander of the 101st Infantry Brigade in Basilan province, said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front surrendered two of the ambushers - Mudzni Sapau, 27; and Adzmin Manjapal, 20.

He said Malik Caril and Sammad Ahaddin, members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities; and Abdurahman Rajan, deputy commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front ’s 114th Base Command in the province, handed over the ambushers.

The Western Mindanao Command did not release any statement despite attempts to get information from its spokesman Maj. Andrew Linao. The motive of the attack was not made public by the army, but the town is a major stronghold of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan, one of 6 provinces under the Muslim autonomous region.

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