BIFF disputes casualty count in continuing clashes

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines – The outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) yesterday dismissed as military propaganda the reports about its 40 casualties in the continuing clashes with government forces since Monday.

The military, however, shunned insinuations by the BIFF that it is open to negotiations in its bid for a puritan Islamic state.

“We will not hide our losses because martyrdom in Islam is an honor and a high form of sacrifice for the glory of Allah,” said BIFF spokesman Abu Misry Mama.

He branded as “pure lies” the reports that they lost 40 fighters in encounters with government troops since Monday.

Mama said there was no truth either to assertions by local officials and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division that their forces have been driven away from their three enclaves in Datu Piang town.

Mama said Wednesday the conflict in Datu Piang, which the military said could be over in the next 72 hours, could escalate sooner than hostilities are expected to wane. He did not elaborate.

The BIFF said yesterday that they are open to peace talks with the government, but strictly on the premise of Moro independence.

Regional military spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso said the government would never negotiate with the BIFF and other outlaws.

“No government, in its proper mindset, will ever negotiate with criminals and terrorists,” he said.

Government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer urged the BIFF to surrender and take part in the peace process in Mindanao.

Ferrer said she supports the military operations against the BIFF, saying that over the last nine months, the armed group has repeatedly harassed the military and terrorized local communities.

“They planted roadside bombs, sniped at our soldiers, took school teachers as hostages and in one instance even beheaded a civilian captive. A few days, in the midst of the fighting, they commandeered a private vehicle and forcibly used it as a roadblock,” Ferrer said in a statement.

Ferrer urged the BIFF to take part in the peace process and give Mindanao a chance for peace.

“We ask them to listen to the plea of their own brothers and sisters to give peace a chance,” she said.

Ferrer said the ongoing military operations are geared at degrading the BIFF’s capability to continue to cause harm to the government forces, civilians and the peace process.

She said that before the military offensive, the ceasefire mechanisms of the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have ensured the safety of civilians in surrounding areas.

Ferrer said the government and the MILF have taken the necessary steps to ensure that the operations will not spill over.

She said the MILF is assisting the military in the operations by helping the government contain the movements of the BIFF. 

Ferrer said BIFF fighters who wanted to surrender could contact supporters or local ground commanders of the MILF to facilitate their return to normal lives.

“These and other avenues are open for those among the BIFF who are ready to join us in our peace efforts,” she said.

Malacañang said there would be no indiscriminate use of force in the effort to crush the BIFF and prevent it from spoiling the peace process in the south.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the BIFF must be stopped from intruding into communities and sow violence but the rules of engagement would be followed.

“We have to understand that the top concern of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP (Philippine National Police) is to ensure the safety of our people,” Coloma said.

“We can be sure all the movements of our law enforcement agencies follow those principles (on rules of engagement),” he said.

Coloma also reassured groups such as the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that there was no discrimination in the military operations.

Hermoso, however, revealed some MNLF members are helping the BIFF rebels against being tracked down by government forces.

Hermoso said some followers of MNLF chief Nur Misuari have relatives in the BIFF.

“We already talked to them (MNLF). We had close coordination with them. They promised not to support or form alliances (with BIFF). But some of their members have relatives in the group,” he said.

Hermoso clarified the actions of MNLF members who are assisting the rebels do not represent the stance of the group.

“We are not worried about that because these are independent actions of their members,” he said.

When asked whether there are MILF members who have joined the BIFF, Hermoso said: “It’s not remote. There are reports but we need to validate it.”

40 dead

This developed as three more BIFF gunmen were killed with six soldiers wounded in another firefight in Datu Piang late Wednesday, bringing to 40 the total number of rebels killed in the clashes.

Local officials and the military have confirmed that 40 bandits were killed in the encounters as of 6:30 a.m. yesterday, which also left three more soldiers wounded.

A total of 13 soldiers have already been wounded in the hostilities in at least four barangays in Datu Piang, according to Hermoso.

“I can confirm, based on information coming from local government units and barangay officials, that 40 BIFF bandits were killed since last Monday. Last Wednesday there were 37 casualties on the side of the BIFF and by 6:30 a.m on 30th of January, three more bandits were killed,” he said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Aurea Calica, Alexis Romero, Roel Pareño