InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MAGUINDANAO, Philippines -- Hostilities in Central Mindanao will only end when the Bangsamoro win their freedom, the spokesman of a breakaway Moro rebel group said here Tuesday.
In an interview in a remote area in this province, Abu Misri Mama, spokesman of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement, also denied that they had initiated the hostilities that saw fighters of their armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, mount simultaneous attacks on government outposts.
The BIFM broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Mama was having difficulty hearing during the interview, blaming this on the continued military bombing of Camp Al Farouk, the BIFM’s stronghold.
He said they mounted last week’s attacks in retaliation for the “treacherous” killing of a number of their comrades last June 20.
“Nananahimik kami sa bundok, ini-snipe nila kasamahan namin doon, namatay. Kaya ang BIFM nagsumpaan sa lahat ng kanilang miyembro na kahit anong mangyari, kung ano mangyari sa isa mangyari sa lahat, kaya ipinaghiganti namin sila (We were staying peacefully in the mountains when they sniped at us, killing some of our men. That is why all the BIFM’s members swore an oath that what happens to one happens to all and decided to avenge them) … ” Mama said.
And despite what he said have been continued military operations against them, they have not wavered in their resolve to wage “jihad” or holy war to achieve their goal.
“Inshallah, inshallah, hanggang may buhay at habang may nakakaintindi ng Koran (God willing, God willing, while we live and while there remain those who understand the Koran) …” he said.
He denied military claims the BIFM enjoys the support of some politicians, saying they did not need this so long as they obeyed the commands of Allah.
But he acknowledged that there are politicians exploiting the current hostilities for their own personal interests.
He also dismissed accusations they were going against their religion by waging jihad during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.
“Walang sinasabi si Allah na bawal ang mag-jihad sa panahon ng Ramadan … wala kang makikita sa Koran (Nothing Allah said forbids jihad during Ramadan… there is nothing in the Koran that forbids it) …” he said.
Mama said BIFM founder Ameril Umra Kato is fully aware of the situation in Maguindanao and added that they remained ready for any eventuality with tensions yet to abate.
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