Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao province (Photo by Mark Navales)
The Philippine military on Wednesday declared an "all-out offensive" against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
The move comes amid fighting between the rebel group and former rebels belonging to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao that has displaced at least 20,000 residents.
"I am saddened by the news that at least 20,000 people had been displaced by the attacks perpetrated by the BIFF," armed forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr said.
"We will do our best to protect the people and allow them to return to their homes," Catapang told reporters on the sidelines of the 29th anniversary celebrations of the 1986 "people power" revolution.
The BIFF responded by vowing to fight bullets with bullets.
"We will welcome them with resistance even if Aquino and the senators will join [the offensive]," said BIFF spokesman Abu Misri Mama.
He said their only concern is the impact a widespread military assault would have on the local population.
"For sure our communities will be displaced. We are just hoping that no civilians will die from the attacks," Mama said.
Fighting between the BIFF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) continues to rage in the towns of Pagalungan and Pikit in Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces.
Catapang also ordered military commanders to follow ceasefire mechanisms between the government and the MILF to avoid any accidental encounters between the former rebels and government forces.
"We must remain united in our common fight against lawlessness and terrorism. Let us show the enemies of the state that we are a formidable force that will continuously pursue them anywhere they go," Catapang said.
A lack of coordination between the police and the MILF was blamed for the January 25 bungled mission against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir that resulted in the death of at least 67 people, 44 of them police commandos.
Military spokesman Lt Col Harold Cabunoc said this "law enforcement operation" will be coordinated with the Philippine National Police and the MILF, which signed a peace deal with the government in March last year.
The decision to go after the BIFF, a breakaway group of the MILF, comes exactly a month after the bungled anti-terrorism operation.
A clan war ignited clashes between BIFF and MILF forces in Pagalungan town, Maguindanao, two weeks ago, leaving several people dead and injured on both sides.
Cabunoc said the objective of the all-out offensive is to "get and punish BIFF men involved in bombings".
"This is aimed at the entire group. The law enforcement operation being conducted by our troops is going to be relentless," said the spokesman, adding that the military operation has the support of the MILF.
"We are in close coordination [with the MILF] in this operation.... We are also asking for their cooperation to avoid unnecessary clashes," said Cabunoc.
A similar campaign against the BIFF in Maguindanao province last year resulted in the destruction of three BIFF camps and a bomb-making factory.
Cabunoc said the military have received reports that the BIFF has been sheltering international terrorist bomber Basit Usman, who escaped the botched police dragnet last month.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the army had deployed troops on Sunday to provide "operational support" to MILF fighters.
A military bombardment of BIFF positions at the weekend killed at least 20 BIFF fighters, he said.
He said civilians in the area have already been evacuated to ensure they are not caught in the crossfire.
