BIFF hand seen in Isulan bomb attack
Mindanao Armed Conflict • 13:30 PM Mon Sep 9, 2019
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By:
John M. Unson
Authorities are convinced that followers of Abu Toraife were behind Saturday’s bombing in Isulan.
SULTAN KUDARAT --- Authorities are certain the group of radical cleric Abu Toraife was responsible for Saturday’s bombing in Isulan town that injured eight people.
Abu Toraife, whose real name is Abdulmalik Esmael, is leader of one of three factions in the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, blamed for all bombings in central Mindanao since 2011.
Army and police intelligence officials told reporters Monday the improvised explosive device that went off Saturday near a row of commercial buildings in the public market of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat was identical with those used in three bombings in the same town early on that left five people dead and injured more than 60 others.
The IED attack on Saturday that hurt eight people was the fourth in Isulan in about 13 months.
Officials of the Regional Police Office-12 said Monday corresponding criminal cases shall be filed against the culprits as soon as the investigation on the incident is accomplished.
Operating in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the BIFF, which has three factions, has been trying to sabotage the peace process between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Malacañang.
Local officials in Isulan and personnel of the Isulan municipal police said there is an indication that the latest bombing in the municipal market was meant to intimidate traders and force them into paying the BIFF “protection money” on periodic basis.