2 BIFF leaders face raps over Midsayap town attack

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - The North Cotabato provincial police filed criminal charges against two commanders of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters that led last week’s siege of four villages in Midsayap town.

Senior Supt. Danny Peralta, provincial police director, told The Star Friday  that Commanders “DM” and Abbas Kudanding, and 30 other bandits have been charged with multiple murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder in connection with their violent forays in Midsayap, which dislocated 1,104 families.

Peralta said the criminal  charges against the suspects were filed Wednesday at the provincial prosecutor office.

Peralta said villagers affected by the hostilities have identified the two BIFF leaders as the duo that led some 200 bandits that attacked their villages, held hostage more than 20 civilians, 13 of them public school teachers, beheaded a farmer and executed another as they fled when soldiers and policemen responded.

Commander “DM” and Kudanding are known henchmen of BIFF founder Ustadz Ameril Omrah Kato, former chief of the 105th Base Command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Peralta said they have sufficient evidence against the two BIFF leaders.

Peralta said the criminal cases they filed against the suspects were jointly documented by the provincial police office, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, scene of crime operatives, and members of the Midsayap municipal police.

Peralta said intelligence agents from the Army’s 602nd Brigade and the 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao also gathered information on the involvement of the two BIFF commanders in the Midsayap attack.