2 BIFF bomb courier captured in Maguindanao

PNP-Criminal Investigation Detection Group (CIDG-BAR) escorted two suspected members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) bomb carrier Jerwali Salem Zabel, male, 32 years old and Nasrullah Abdullah Walingan, 24 years old married, resident of Sitio Mupak, Barangay Poblacion, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao. Members of MILF captured two BIFF while conducting a checkpoint after the Datu Paglas attack incident. Confiscated from their possession are Two (2) Unit of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and 45 caliber pistol (Mark Navales)

Cotabato City – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) member have captured two suspected Pro Islamic State bomb couriers a day after Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) militants headed by Abu Karialan attacked  a town of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao and engaged in gun-battle for six hours before they retreated over the weekend, the military said Tuesday.

Arrested BIFF militants, identified as Jerwali Salem Zabel, 32; and Nasrullah Abdullah Walingan, 24, both members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, were intercepted by former Moro Islamic Liberation Front around 8:00 a.m. on Monday in the village of Mangadeg, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, said Army’s Brigadier General Roy Galido, Commander of 601st Infantry Brigade.

“The suspects admitted that they were supposed to deliver food to their companions that are continuously being hunted by government forces,” Galido said, adding two improvised explosive devices (IED’s) and a 45 caliber pistol were confiscated from the suspects.

On Saturday, BIFF militants, a breakaway of the MILF, entered the town of Datu Paglas and took over the main public market, engaged in running gun battle with government security forces until they retreated towards the marshland areas.

Also on the same day, soldiers conducting a combat clearing operation in the nearby town of Pandag, also in Maguindanao, recovered assorted weapons and ammunition believed to be owned by the militants.

Galido said the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG-BAR) took custody of the suspects working under Commander Karialan of BIFF.

Lt. Col. John Paul Baldomar, the local military spokesman, said the security sector still has control of the situation while pursuing BIFF militants on the ground.

“We have intensified our operation against these militants in the past few months,” Baldomar said, adding the latest encounter that occurred on Sunday in the marshland near Datu Paglas.

Government security forces advanced with Simba tanks support secured the Hi-way after Pro Islamic State militants Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) occupied the town proper of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao on Saturday May 8, 2021. In 2019, the BIFF was blamed for a series of bomb attacks in the south, including on a town market and at a restaurant in the town of Isulan that injured eight and 18 respectively. BIFF members are former MILF fighters who had opposed that peace deal. Members pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. (By Mark Navales)

 

The military said there were no reports of any hostages being taken during the militants’ siege of the market and ground troops recovered four improvised bombs, which the BIFF militants had planted around the town.

In 2019, the BIFF was blamed for a series of bomb attacks in the south, including on a town market and at a restaurant in the town of Isulan that injured eight and 18 respectively. BIFF members are former MILF fighters who had opposed that peace deal. Members pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

With the latest incident, Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research in Manila, urged the Philippine government and former Muslim rebels to intensify their campaign in preventing violent activities in the southern Philippines days after militants linked to the Islamic State attacked a southern Philippine town and caused a large displacement of civilians.

“The BIFF has been targeting areas that have a weak presence of government forces and they saw the town has the only small presence of troops since the military focused their operation in the marshland,” Banlaoi said.

When asked about its implication in the peace process, Banlaoi explained that both the central government and Murad Ibrahim, interim chief minister of the BARMM, claimed pocket skirmishes cannot be avoided on the ground despite the signing of peace agreement since armed groups like the BIFF and Abu Sayyaf still active in Mindanao. (By Mark Navales-The Redline News)