Troops tell BIFF to stay away from irrigation project

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - The military on Saturday warned the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters of dire consequences if the latter do not cease from attempting to mulct money from contractors involved in a multi-billion irrigation project in the province.

The outlawed BIFF, which engages in banditry,  is not covered by the July 1997 Agreement on General Cessation of Hostilities between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Captain Tony Bulao, spokesman of the Army’s 602nd Brigade, said there have been reports about the BIFF’s attempts to ask money from private contractors and officials of the National Irrigation Administration overseeing the Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation project.

Bulao said the BIFF has been asking some P3 million from the NIA officials and private contractors involved in the project.

All of them have reportedly ignored the group's demand.

The coffer dam of the irrigation facility is located in Barangay Kibines in Carmen town in North Cotabato, near the command headquarters of the 602nd Brigade.

The project, if completed, will irrigate more than 20,000-hectares of rice farms in several towns in the neighboring North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

Bulao said the 602nd Brigade  believes that the latest attacks by the BIFF on Army bases in North Cotabato’s adjoining Pikit, Midsayap and Mlang towns sought to show that it could sabotage the Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation project. - John Unson