Offer reward for BIFF leaders’ arrest, Palace asked

SULTAN KUDARAT – Residents and local officials have urged Malacañang to put up a bounty for information leading to the arrest of the leaders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The Soccsksargen police and the 6th Infantry Division (ID) said the BIFF led by Imam Karialan, Iman Bongos and Abu Toraife were behind the bombings in Isulan town in this province last Aug. 28 and Sept. 2 that left five people dead and 40 others wounded.

The provincial government of Sultan Kudarat offered a reward of P1 million for the arrest of the perpetrators.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said he supports proposals to raise the reward for the arrest of BIFF leaders, noting that the group is “creating a wedge between Muslims and Christians.”

“Islam is all about tolerance, peace... and respect for religions,” Mangudadatu said.

Members of Central Mindanao’s business, political and religious communities turned to social media to call on President Duterte to offer a reward for the arrest of BIFF leaders.

Businessmen expressed concern that they would be the target of bombings if they would not heed the extortion demands of BIFF men.

“It is about time the national government put up a reward for the capture dead or alive of senior leaders of this group,” grains trader Kando Omar said.

Peace activists and Muslim preachers called on the police and military to display the photos of BIFF leaders along highways.

“We don’t support them. That should be clear to all. Their practices and ideals are absolutely in contrast with Islamic teachings,” Ustadz Hamodi Salik, an Islamic theologian in a government-recognized madrasah in Maguindanao.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, 6th ID commander, said military intelligence personnel are verifying the identities of the bombers with the help of peace and order councils in Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao as well as senior local government officials.

Sobejana said the bombings could be in retaliation for the casualties the BIFF incurred in encounters with the military in the past four months.

Meanwhile, Mangudadatu said he asked the 6th ID to check reports that foreigners with Middle Eastern features are training BIFF recruits on bombmaking.

‘No need to extend martial law’

On calls for the extension of martial law in Mindanao amid recent bombings, the Commmission on Human Rights (CHR) said security forces are “fully capable of quelling lawlessness.”

“It is also best to carefully assess the situation on the ground, considering... the harsh effects of martial law on communities such as internal displacement, allegations of torture, profiling and other forms of unwarranted violence,” Jacqueline de Guia, CHR spokesperson, said.

Several Palace officials had earlier said the Aug. 28 bombing in Isulan could result in the extension of martial law.

The CHR office in Soccsksargen has initiated an investigation into the bombings.