Residents stand against BIFF in Maguindanao in peace rally
Local News • 13:15 PM Wed Jan 20, 2021
912
By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
Hundreds of residents of a town in Maguindanao frequently harassed by Dawla Islamiyah gunmen have stood up on Tuesday against the groups’ lawlessness and terror activities.
“Enough is enough,” said officials and inhabitants of Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao, led by Mayor Yacob Ampatuan, as they marched around town in a peace rally and condemned the atrocities carried out by BIFF.
Carrying placards and banners, the residents, all Muslims, condemned the atrocities of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who have been harassing and mulcting farmers during harvest season.
The peace rally was attended by village officials, business people, women’s group, non-government organizations, Moro Islamic Liberation Front guerillas and Muslim religious leaders.
“Hindi nakakatulong sa amin ang terorismo, wag niyo kami idamay, hindi kayo welcome dito sa aming bayan,” some of the streamers read.
“The people have spoken, the BIFF are persona non-grata in our town,” Mayor Ampatuan said.
Kedtag Salamat, a villager, said he had witnessed countless harassment by the BIFF in the past and he wanted to live peaceful and productively with his family in one of 11 villages in Rajah Buayan.
“Our town has no BIFF, the terrorists are from other towns but they conduct harassment against our people, especially during harvest season,” a village officials said, asking he remained unidentified in the report.
After a brief march, the villagers proceeded to the town’s covered court and set on fire a black flag that symbolizes the root causes of the conflict in town – drugs and terrorism.
Another villager said the works of the BIFF “hinder development of our communities and the education of our children and it must stop.”
“We are glad our local officials take this stance not taken by other leaders for fear of reprisal from BIFF,” a teacher who introduced himself as Salman said.
Without providing statistics, he said many innocent civilians have either been harmed or killed by the BIFF for refusing to share “revolutionary taxes” to the armed group.
The Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion stationed in town provided security while the peace rally was on going and lauded the efforts to help bring about peace in their communities.