AFP looking into BIFF involvement in NGCP tower bombings

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities are looking into the possible involvement of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the back-to-back bombings of transmission towers in Mindanao even if the group has denied staging them.

Armed Forces spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla said there are indications that members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) breakaway group are behind the explosions.

“Although they have denied any link, we are trying to ascertain if these denials are true, so far we have not receive any categorical information to say otherwise,” Padilla said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

“There are signatures indicating that there are certain elements within the BIFF using the same kind of techniques,” he added.

Two transmission towers in Central Mindanao were bombed in a span of one week, causing power outages in several villages in two provinces.

The first explosion happened on January 13 in Pagalungan, Maguindanao and brought power outages in the province as well as in North Cotabato and Cotabato City.  Another bombing incident happened in Pikit, North Cotabato five days later.

When asked for the possible motive of BIFF, Padilla noted that the BIFF is opposed to the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the measure that would implement the peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

“They do not want the peace talks to be completed. This may be the reason why they are sowing disorder in Central Mindanao,” he said.

BIFF members broke away from the MILF due to their refusal to recognize the peace talks with the government. The group is not contented with the enhanced autonomy being offered by the government and is instead pushing for the creation of an independent Islamic state.