President Rodrigo Duterte has warned the terrorist group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) to stop oppressing civilians or face full-force retaliation from the military. Because next time around, I do not think that I will be in a position to withdraw my [order], Duterte said in a prerecorded speech aired over state-run PTV-4 on Thursday night. The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, whose former leaders now head the BARMM. BIFF members occupied a public market in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao last weekend but eventually fled after a brief clash with government troops. “I don’t want to kill Muslims; I don’t want to kill Christians.

Source: Manila Times May 14, 2021 16:33 UTC