terrorism

Locals recount BIFF faction attack in Datu Piang, Maguindanao

Taj Basman

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Locals recount BIFF faction attack in Datu Piang, Maguindanao

SCORCHED. The police vehicle burned by members of the BIFF-Karialan faction.

McMorrie Bidara

A resident says some BIFF members planned to burn down the parish church as well

In an incident that was thought to be a repeat of the 2017 Marawi siege, around 50 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) entered Datu Piang, Maguindanao, late Thursday night, December 3, and burned a police vehicle.

Previous reports said that Sta Teresita Parish Church and Notre Dame of Dulawan, a private school, were also burned down. However, Enor, a local resident, recounted in an interview with Rappler what transpired that night.

“Nag-umpisa sila ng 10:15 [pm]. Pagsunog nitong sasakyan ng pulis, nagpa-utos ang isa sa kanila na kunin ‘yung isang galon ng gasolina dahil isusunod nila ‘yung simbahan,” he said. (They began at 10:15 pm. After they set the police vehicle on fire, one of them ordered another to get the gallon of gasoline because they would do the church next.)

Enor noted that he could clearly hear the conversations because he hid the entire time in a dark spot inside his house located near the burning car.

The armed group began shooting towards the direction of the church but one of the older members stopped them.

“Nag-umpisa na silang magpaputok sa simbahan pero buti na lang pinagbawalan sila noong matanda – ‘yung kumander nila. Pinagalitan sila at sinabing ‘wag ninyong idamay ang simbahan kasi walang ginagawa ‘yan. Hindi ‘yan ang kalaban natin,” Enor recalled.

(They started shooting at the church but fortunately one of the elders – their commander – told them off. He scolded them and said they shouldn’t involve the church because it didn’t do anything. It’s not our enemy.)

BROKEN. A bullet pierced a windows of the Sta Teresita Parish Church.
McMorrie Bidara

It was only then that the men shot their last, signaling their withdrawal.

Enor said he wasn’t scared at the time. “Hindi ako natatakot kasi alam namin na sila hindi sila gagalaw ng sibilyan puwera na lang kung ISIS. Kasi ang ISIS walang pinipili mapasibilyan ka o Christian. ‘Pag Freedom (BIFF), kahit Christian ka hindi ka nila papatayin basta sibilyan ka,” he said, although the BIFF itself had long announced its pledge of allegiance to ISIS.

(I wasn’t afraid because we know that they won’t hurt civilians. It’s a different story if ISIS was involved, since ISIS doesn’t distinguish whether you’re a civilian or Christian. With the BIFF, even if you’re a Christian, they won’t kill you for as long as you’re a civilian.)

It’s a different story if the BIFF encountered the military or police, said Enor, who gestured a slit to the throat.

“Kaya ang sabi ko sa mga kasama ko sa bahay, ‘wag lang tayo lalabas kasi hindi sila gagalaw ng mga sibilyan dahil ang kalaban nila ay military, pulis, at BPAT,” he said. (That’s why I told the people in my house, don’t go out because they won’t hurt civilians. Their enemies are the military, police, and barangay peacekeepers).

Securing the church

Just before the incident, Jun (not his real name), a parish worker assigned at Sta Teresita Parish Church, said that he was told by the police to turn off all the lights at around 7 pm.

“Kaya ni-lock ko ‘yung mga pintuan ng simbahan at hinarangan ko ng paso para walang mag-isip na pumasok,” Jun said.

“Hindi ito first time sa ‘kin na makakita ako ng giyera dahil nadestino na din ako sa Jolo, Sulu. Abu Sayyaf naman ang nandoon pero hindi ganito kadami,” he added, referring to the number of BIFF members in their area.

(That’s why I locked all the doors of the church and I blocked the path with potted plants so that no one would think of coming in. It’s not the first time that I experienced this because I was assigned in Jolo, Sulu. There are Abu Sayyaf there, but this many.)

Sta Teresita Parish Church
INTACT. Sta Teresita Parish Church in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.
McMorrie Bidara

Residents recalled that more than 50 armed men entered the premises of the church that night.

“Buti na lang hindi nagbakbakan dito dahil kung sakaling nangyari ‘yun, siguradong mamimilit sila na magbukas ng bahay. Baka maghostage din sila,” Jun said. (It’s a good thing there was no clash here because if that happened, they would surely force open the homes. And they might have taken holstages.)

The BIFF had taken civilian hostages in the past. In 2017, the BIFF attacked a military outpost in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, and used over 30 civilians as human shields, then as hostages as they holed out in a school. The incident was later resolved when the BIFF retreated and released all the hostages.

The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) said in a press statement that responding troops drove the BIFF elements away from Datu Piang, following a heavy exchange of gunfire while the group was withdrawing towards Liguasan Marsh.

No casualties were reported during the incident.

Attacks to continue?

In a phone interview with Rappler, BIFF spokersperson Abu Misri Mama denied the BIFF’s involvement in the Datu Piang incident, and said only the Karialan faction of the group was responsible for the attack.

“Tungkol sa nangyari sa Datu Piang kagabi, ay wala pong kinalaman ang BIFF sa pangyayaring ‘yun, maliban sa grupo ni Karialan, ‘yung nagtangkang maging chairman ng BIFF,” he said. (About what happened in Datu Piang, the BIFF is not involved in that incident, except for the group of Karialan, who attempted to become the BIFF chairman.)

6ID spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Anhouvic Atilano confirmed that the attack was made by “the followers of Karialan Saga Animbang under Karialan Faction of BIFF and Commander Sukarno Guilil alias Motorola, a henchman of Karialan, who leads offensive attacks on military and PNP detachments.”

Abu Jehad, spokesperson of BIFF-Karialan faction, said in an interview with Brigada News radio that they would not stop conducting similar operations until illegal activities – gambling and illegal drugs – are put to an end.

“Hindi kami titigil at walang makakapigil sa amin (We will not stop and no one can stop us),” he said.

Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman had denounced the Datu Piang attack as “brazen and senseless.”

Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan Jr earlier said that the BIFF might have carried out the attack in a bid to divert military attention, since the group has been the target of ongoing military offensives in the area.

The BIFF broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2008 as it opposed the MILF’s peace process with the government. The peace deal was sealed in 2014, and culminated in the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019. – Rappler.com

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