IPFA man missing since Metro bomb scare

NORTH UPI, Maguindanao — While the military remains baffled about the intricacies of the obscure Indigenous People’s Federal Army (IPFA), believed behind the recent bomb scare in Metro Manila, Tiruray natives here are certain that its spokesman, who has identified himself only as "Sedrev," hails from this town.

Sedrev, according to Tiruray leaders here, reportedly left Mindanao a week before their group planted hoax bombs in different parts of Metro Manila last month.

"And as far as we know, he has been missing since," said one of more than a dozen influential Tiruray leaders whom The STAR asked to provide details about Sedrev.

An Army intelligence source said they have been receiving feedback since last week that Sedrev returned to Northern Mindanao after their Metro Manila mission and has since been missing.

Although local Tiruray sources declined to give more information about Sedrev, they all asserted that they are convinced that the IPFA could be linked both to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the communist New People’s Army.

It has been common knowledge among villagers for more than a decade now that there exists a "lumad army" here composed of armed Tirurays who have been imposing a justice system patterned after their tradition of maintaining peace and unity among their clans.

Surprisingly, the military has been ostensibly silent about the existence of the natives’ militia.

Among the first to confirm its existence was this town’s former mayor, Datu Puti Sinsuat, who served for three terms until last year’s elections.

According to Tiruray leaders, Sedrev is educated and discusses well the ramifications of the struggle of Mindanao’s indigenous communities to be amply represented in the national government.

But most of the Tiruray leaders are opposed to the manner by which the IPFA is dramatizing its bid for federalism in the country.

"Why plant hoax bombs and scare people? Do it the positive way. Communicate peacefully with the legislature, communicate with Malacañang," said a public school teacher, who requested anonymity.

Various community-based, non-government organizations here, mostly led by Tirurays, have denied insinuations of possible links to the IPFA.