DOWNPLAY. Martial Law Spokesperson for Mindanao Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay and Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella on Friday’s (June 23) Mindanao Hour Press Conference in a hotel in Davao City. Both downplayed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters’ threat of gunning down President Rodrigo Duterte as “desperate” remarks. (Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — The threats against President Rodrigo Duterte’s life issued by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are merely “desperate” statements meant to divert public attention from the setbacks suffered by the group in their stronghold of Maguindanao, said Eastern Mindanao Command Deputy Commander and Martial Law Spokesperson for Mindanao, Brigadier General Gilbert Gapay.
On Friday’s Mindanao Hour, Gapay said government troops have “isolated” the BIFF in what he called the “SPMS Box.”
The SPMS Box refers to the towns of Sharif Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydonam, which are all in M
Maguindanao.
On Thursday evening, after attacking a militia base and holding 31 residents as hostage in Barangay Malagakit in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, members of the BIFF left threatening messages for Duterte.
One such message written in a black board, the BIFF said: “Shoot to kill ka namin DU30. Kahit saan humingi ng tulong si DU30 hindi niya kami kayang ubusin DU30 putang ina mo hayop” (We’re going to shoot to kill you, Duterte. It doesn’t matter where or from whom Duterte seeks help, he cannot killus all. Duterte you son of a whore, animal).
The message also threatened that Davao was next.
Similarly, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the BIFF has no capability to bring harm to the President. Abella claimed the BIFF had no ground support, and could not expect the support of the Muslims in Maguindanao.
“The fact that there’s actually no ground support for them. The local Muslim community, the Maranaos especially, do not want this. And for whatever reason that they are dealing with this, whether it is personal interest or what, there is no ground support for them,” Abella said.
Despite admitting the possible tactical alliance between BIFF and the Maute group, both Gapay and Abella denied any connection between the attack to Pigcawayan and Marawi.
Both said the BIFF’s move was merely a retaliation to the setbacks caused by relentless operations by the 6th Infantry Division.
According to government data, the BIFF attack claimed the lives of one government soldier and six BIFF fighters. The encounter also caused the displacement of 367 households, or 1,707 individuals.
