Top BIFF leader slain in Maguindanao del Norte

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The leader of a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was killed during a joint military and police law enforcement operation while authorities were serving a warrant of arrest in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, before dawn on Sunday, a military official said.

Brig. General Edgar Catu, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, identified the fatality as Esmael Abubakar, widely known as “Commander Bungos,” whom the military described as the overall chairman and leader of the BIFF-Bungos faction and one of the high-value targets of the Western Mindanao Command.

The operation was conducted at around 2 a.m. in Barangay Calsada by Army soldiers, together with personnel from the Maguindanao del Sur Police Provincial Office.

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Authorities said the operation was carried out by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by a Cotabato City court against Abubakar, who was facing charges of murder with double frustrated murder, multiple attempted murder and destructive arson.

READ: 14 BIFF members surrender, yield 39 firearms in Maguindanao del Sur

Abubakar, a former vice chair for political affairs under BIFF founder Ameril Umbra Kato, formed the BIFF-Bungos faction after a leadership split following Kato’s death in 2015. The military said the group operated in parts of Maguindanao del Sur, particularly in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Piang, Pagatin and Mamasapano.

Among the incidents attributed to his group was the coordinated attack on Feb. 28, 2019, in Cotabato City and parts of Maguindanao del Sur, which resulted in the deaths of three soldiers from the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion and injuries to two civilians, according to the military.

Police also linked him to the attack against government forces and civilians, including the ambush of police personnel in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur in March. /cb

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