Military coordinates with Muslim rebels in attacking BIFM: Official

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government had coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) through the ad hoc action group (AHJAG) when the military troops went after the suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) in southern provinces of North Cotabato and Maguindanao, a senior government official said today.

AHJAG is an effort of both the government and the MILF that seeks to interdict and isolate lawless elements that take refuge in or near MILF communities.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte made the statement after MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar claimed that there were some of their members who have been affected by the hostilities between the government troops and the BIFM, also known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an MILF breakaway group.

Quoting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Valte said that the military coordinated with the MILF "because there were members of the BIFF that may have been hiding in some areas where there were also members of the MILF."

She said the AFP did it to avoid the MILF members to be affected by the skirmishes.

Valte added that the military operations were limited for three days only.

Jaafar has said that some of their fighters were affected by the government operations and the Muslim group also voiced opposition against the offensives considering the onset of Ramadan.

Clashes between government forces and members of the BIFM started last Saturday and the military said it had captured the group's stronghold in the villages of Damalabas in Datu Piang and Ganta in Shariff Saydona Mustapha, all in Maguindanao.

The clashes resulted to the death of at least 80 people, including five soldiers.