Gov't condemns increasing violent incidents involving BIFF

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The government condemned today the rise in violent incidents allegedly committed by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Government peace panel head Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said that from July to September this year alone, the government panel secretariat tallied a total of 48 violent incidents, including shootings, explosions and fire fights in southern Philippine provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Basilan involving the BIFF.

Some of the incidents in Basilan involved alleged members of the terrorist Abu Sayyaf group, she said.

"The BIFF attacks show a total disregard to human life and a willful desire to block the progress towards achieving a peaceful resolution of the armed conflicts in Mindanao," Ferrer said.

Government peace panel member Senen Bacani vowed that the government will apply the full force of the law against those who cause violence and havoc on civilian communities.

The BIFF, founded by former MILF commander Ameril Umbra Kato, broke away with the MILF in late 2010 after the latter dropped the call for an independent Islamic state.

Under a framework agreement that the MILF signed in October last year with the Aquino administration, a Bangsamoro government will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under the Philippine government.