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Tight security as charges filed against BIFF leaders
 [PhilStar] More security personnel have been deployed in parts of central Mindanao after charges were filed against two Islamic militants implicated in recent bomb attacks. Police spokesman Graciano Mijares said police in Maguindanao have also asked village leaders to help stop attacks by sympathizers. He said, "We are not taking chances. Our personnel on the ground have also been maximizing their anti-terror intelligence gathering initiatives." Police have filed multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder charges against more than a dozen Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters for the fatal August 28 and September 2 bombings in Isulan town in Sultan Kudarat. Among those named in the complaint are Esmael Abdulmalik, most known as Abu Toraife, and bomb-maker Salahuddin Hassan. Abu Toraife is leader of one of three factions in the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Hassan, meanwhile, was trained in making improvised explosive devices by slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, better known as Marwan. The two were last spotted holding out in Shariff Saidona town in Maguindanao. Other than Abu Toraife's faction, the BIFF also has two other factions, one led by Imam Karialan and the other by Imam Bongos. Local government units in central Mindanao have stepped up efforts against the BIFF, prompted by the bombings in Isulan, in General Santos City and in Midsayap town in North Cotabato in the past three weeks. The IED attack in Barangay Apopong, General Santos City on September 16 hurt eight people, one of them a three-year-old child. Posted by: ryuge 2018-09-25 |
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