AFP chief: Military drive against BIFF may last till June

MANILA , Philippines — The military operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao could last until June, Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang Jr. said on Friday.

“The offensive will stay up to June because we have yet to fully account all the BIFF membership. There are about 300 plus. As of last count, we have neutralized somewhere between 110 and 120,” he told reporters.

The military last month launched an all-out offensive against the BIFF, the breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that is opposed to the peace deal between the MILF and the government.

The operations started after a rido or clan war between the BIFF and MILF in February. The BIFF is also believed to be coddling Basit Usman, a bomb maker who escaped a police operation in Mamasapano last January.

Catapang said they are hoping to catch Usman in due time.

The fighting has already displaced at least 100,000 people, he added.

By next week, Catapang said they are aiming for the next phase of the operations dubbed as “peace and development operations.”

He said they would assess and check municipalities where evacuees could already return to. I will be going there on Wednesday to visit to give an update,” he said.

“We are now on clearing phase and what we want to clear initially is the SMPS box. Kung clear na yan, we will allow the people to return to their abode and put in peace and development activities which include roads, bridges, schools and hospitals for peace,” he added.

The AFP chief also said that a P67-million wooden bridge that would be constructed in Mamasapano will be inaugurated on Wednesday.

It was in the bamboo bridge that most of the police commandos were killed in the bungled mission. It was the only way that top terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan could be reached but at the same time it is also the only access for the people in Tukanalipao to the rest of the town.