Palace, AFP: BIFF not capable to launch attacks vs Duterte

MANILA - The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) could not carry out any attacks against President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was the assurance of Malacañang and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday, amid the threat by Moro insurgents that they are targeting to kill Duterte.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the BIFF could not cause harm on the President because the group does not have "ground support" from the local Muslim community to stage such attacks.

"Based on the result, no, [the BIFF does not have the capability to assault the President]," Abella said in a press conference in Davao City.

"The fact is there is really no ground support for them. The local Muslim community, the Maranaos especially, do not want this. There is no ground support for them," he added.

Members of the BIFF on Wednesday attacked Barangay Malagakit in Pigcawayan town in North Cotabato and left a message for Duterte.

On one blackboard in a school the combatants raided, they wrote: "It's shoot to kill for Duterte."

At the joint press conference, Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay, Mindanao Command deputy commander, dismissed as "desperate" the pronouncement of the BIFF.

"That pronouncement of the BIFF is a desperate pronouncement because what happened in Pigcawayan recently was a retaliation," Gapay said.

"Somehow, [it’s] a diversionary attack resulting from the major setbacks they have been experiencing in their stronghold in Maguindanao, specifically in the SPMS box, because our forces there have also intensified operations against the BIFF," he added.

Gapay said the BIFF's threat was not as "serious" as the dangers posed by Maute terror group, who

is currently battling with the government forces in Marawi City Lanao del Sur.

He added that there is a dedicated military unit to intensify offensives to successfully wipe out the BIFF.

"It's not as serious as the one we're fighting in Marawi because BIFF is contained in their stronghold in SPMS box and our troops there doing very well in containing the BIFF," he said.

"Just like Maute group, BIFF group is also a target. Being a local terrorist group is also a target of local operations. A dedicated unit is right now tasked to address this threat and just like our efforts against the Maute group, we will sustain our operations against the BIFF until they are decimated," he added.

Gapay, however, said that it was "very possible" for the two terrorist groups to have "tactical alliance."

He said that in 2015, the Maute and the BIFF's Bongos faction both pledged allegiance to Jihadist group Islamic State or Iraq and Syria.

But he assured the public that the Presidential Security Group (PSG) is adjusting the security measures, "based on the level of threats," to ensure the Chief Executive's safety and security.

"Our PSG, Presidential Security Group is making adjustments on this. And of course, security measures are being assessed from time to time for the safety and security of our President," Gapay said.