New group coddling Usman, says AFP

MANILA, Philippines—A new group called Justice for Islamic Movement (JIM) is believed to be coddling bomb maker Basit Usman, the military said on Wednesday.

“Napag-alaman po ng tropa na itong mga grupo ni Basit at ang mga teroristang ito ay pinoprotektahan ng isang dating hanay ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters na nagsagawa ng kanilang group (We have learned that Basit’s terrorist group is being protected by a former member of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who has formed his own group),” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.

The group is allegedly led by Mohammad Ali Tambako, a former member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, who has signed a peace deal with the government. The rebel group is blamed for the bombings in Central Mindanao.

“The group of Tambako is holding the group of Usman. These individuals taught bomb making to BIFF and now the JIM,” Padilla said.

Tambako was also a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front and the MILF before he became a member of the BIFF. He later became part of the JIM with about 70 followers, Padilla said.

The BIFF is in conflict with the JIM, which was formed in November 2013, because of different ideologies, he added.

Usman escaped a police operation in Mamasapano on January where top terrorist Zulkfli bin Hir alias Marwan was believed to be killed.

The information on the group has been obtained from informants in Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao and in Pikit, Cotabato.

The military is currently doing all-out offensives against the BIFF in Central Mindanao.