BIFF commander killed in Basilan, claims military

Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). INQUIRER MINDANAO FILE PHOTO

CITY, Philippines – The military claimed that it killed a commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) during an hour-long encounter in Al-Barka town in Basilan on Saturday morning.

Lt. Col. Paolo Perez, chief of the 18th Infantry Battalion, identified the slain BIFF leader as Basir Kasaran alias Kumander Basir. His deputy, Misuari Jamiri, was wounded and has become the target of the military’s hunt, Perez said.

But according to Abu Misry Mama, spokesperson of the Maguindanao-based BIFF, his group does not have a field commander named Basir.

Mama said the military just wanted to “lump” his group with the Abu Sayyaf group.

Perez said their operations were being conducted with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members led by Umbong Mallatin.

Mallatin’s group clashed with the alleged BIFF group, and “it turned out that they were supported by the Abu Sayyaf Group,” Perez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by phone.

Kasaran, the military officer said, was also a sub-leader of the Abu Sayyaf.

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