Moro group fears US military intervention

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – As the Philippines and the US signed a military deal allowing more access of American troops to the Philippines, which coincided with the visit of US President Barack Obama to Manila, an armed Moro group expressed fears over foreign military intervention in Mindanao.  

Abu Misry Mama, spokesman of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), said they are ready to defend their land against “foreign forces.” 

“We would not join the calls for the total pullout of US soldiers in the country because talking is nothing. But what is sure is that our freedom fighters will shoot any foreign forces that would try to take away our land,” Mama said.  

The BIFF is a breakaway group of the bigger Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which recently signed a peace agreement with the Aquino government. BIFF’s forces are based mainly in Maguindanao and other parts of central Mindanao.

Mama said they’re not worried at all that the US government would put them in the terror list. On the US’ terror list is the Abu Sayyaf Group, which is behind many kidnappings in Mindanao, mostly in the provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

The rebel spokesman said the BIFF is hoping that the US government would not intervene in the internal affairs of Mindanao and provoke hostilities. “The BIFF will not meddle with their political agenda in Manila as long as they would not meddle with Mindanao and the Bangsamoro homeland,” Mama said.

Mama also warned the MILF to be careful in dealing with the US government considering the Americans’ “long history of atrocities” in Moro areas. – Rappler.com