The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is keen on opening its doors to members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) if its splinter groups decide to return to its fold.
This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which was welcomed by MILF chairman Murad Embrahim as both sides work for peace in Mindanao.
The BIFF is a breakaway group of the MILF led by the late Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato. The group, however, has since been broken into three factions: the Karialan, Bungos and Abu Turaifie groups.
Ebrahim earlier said that terrorists and extremist groups will be isolated with the new Bangsamoro law, a statement he made in a gathering of almost 100,000 MILF officials, combatants and supporters in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
“Anytime that they want to join, they can join,” Ebrahim said.
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But the MILF leader clarified that the invitation is not extended to the group of Abu Turaifie, which was labeled by the Army’s 6th Infantry Division as an ISIS-inspired group in Central Mindanao.
“The MILF has been trying to negotiate with the Karialan and Bungos factions to join and once again be a part of the organization,” said Ebrahim. “They still want political solutions, but they do not believe in the government.”
“So, if there’s viable political solution in place, I think this can gradually win over these small groups,” he added.
The BIFF Karialan faction claimed it is in a “wait and see” mode watching developments following the new Bangsamoro law. It wants to know if BOL will uphold the Shariah Law but its members vowed not to be a hindrance to the implementation of the law.
BIFF Bungos faction spokesperson Abu Missry Mama maintained its fight is far from over.
During the assembly, the MILF urged its members and supporters to stay united as they face new struggles when the new Bangsamoro government takes its place.
Meantime, Cotabato City can thrive even without partaking of a P80-billion annual grant under the proposed Bangsamoro region, its mayor said.
The city of nearly 300,000 people is unlikely to join the Bangsamoro should a plebiscite be held today, said Mayor Cynthia Guiani.
While Maguindanao province, where Cotabato is located, is part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the city is an independent component of the larger SOCCSKSARGEN region.
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