Army blames BIFF in Midsayap videoke bar blast

The fragments of IED recovered inside a videoke bar in Midsayap, North Cotabato that bomb experts said has the trademarks of BIFF. 6th ID PHOTO

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao (Sept. 17) – The military here has tagged the ISIS-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) as suspects in the bombing of a videoke bar in Midsayap, North Cotabato on Sunday night.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, the commander of the 6th Infantry Division, described the BIFF under Abu Torayfe as “peace spoilers.”

Three men went inside Theresa’s Place videoke bar in Barangay Poblacion 4, Midsayap, North Cotabato at 7 p.m, ordered soft drinks then left.

Minutes after the suspects left on a motorbike, an explosion ripped through the bamboo-made shanty inside the videoke bar.

Bomb experts said the improvised explosive device (IED) was made of aluminum flash powder as main charge placed in a plastic container with cell phone, nine volts battery, and concrete nails as fragmentation, and it was concealed in a jersey shirt.

“It was similar to other IEDs set off by the BIFF in other parts of the province,” a bomb expert said.

Military and police authorities have monitored the BIFF under Torayfe, one of the three factions of Moro gunmen based in Maguindanao, have resorted to attacking “soft targets” or civilian areas to avenge the losses they suffered during military offensives in Liguasan marshland.

“The DAESH Inspired Abu Torayfie Group was responsible for the attack as they are known to be peace spoilers and to sow terror in the community,” said Sobejana who also heads the Army-led Task Force Central.

The Midsyap blast came about eight hours after an IED was set off in Gen. Santos City also on Sunday that injured eight persons.

Police authorities in Gen. Santos blamed the BIFF for the explosion. /kga