Cops nab 'BIFF sub-commander' allegedly involved in 2020 police car burning, church shooting

A suspected sub-commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) was apprehended in the town of Datu Piang over his alleged involvement in the torching of a police car and shooting inside a church in Maguindanao del Sur in 2020, according to Emil Sumangil’s “24 Oras” report.

The suspect, identified as alias Bayawak, is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, multiple murder, frustrated murder, violation of Anti-Terrorism Act, and destructive arson, the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said. 

Bayawak's group, composed of over 100 BIFF members, allegedly attacked a community in Datu Piang in December 2020. 

“Nag-ugat ito sa isang insidente last December 2020, wherein a group of armed individuals, BIFF members, kasama na itong sub-commander nang-harass sa isang bayan sa Datu Piang under the Maguindanao del Sur,” Police Colonel Ariel Huesca, CIDG-BAR Regional Chief. 

(It stemmed from an incident last December 2020, wherein a group of armed individuals, BIFF members, and the suspect, harassed a community in Datu Piang.)

“Sinunog nila yung patrol car, pinagbabaril nila yung simbahan and hinarass nila ang mga sibilyan...May binanggit sila na motibo…allegedly yung may nangyayari sa Poblacion Datu Piang na labag sa Islamic faith,” Huesca added. 

(They burned a patrol car, attacked a church, harassed civilians. They said that an activity was going on that was against the Islamic faith was being conducted in Poblacion Datu Piang.)

GMA Integrated News has exerted efforts to reach out to the suspect for comment. — Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News