Palace condemns alleged atrocities of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom fighters in North Cotabato

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 24): Palace condemns alleged atrocities of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom fighters in North Cotabato

The alleged beheading of a farmer in North Cotabatois not only cruel but also inhuman, Malacanang said as it vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable for the crime.

The military reported that a farmer was beheaded by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) in Midsayap, North Cotabato.

The military said soldiers found the decapitated body of Ricardo Dionio in Sitio Dimapulot in Barangay Malinao, Midsayap, North Cotabato.

The fighting spread on Tuesday, with hostilities reported on the outskirts of Tulunan town as well as in the Maguindanao towns of Parang, where a civilian was wounded when an improvised explosive device was set off.

In Datu Saudi Ampatuan, the BIFF fighters reportedly attacked a military detachment.

Security officials in Mindanao said they have enough forces to prevent a spillover of the violence.

Despite the barbarity of the BIFF acts, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said it’s up to the military and security officials to decide whether to declare the BIFF a terrorist organization.

The Abu Sayyaf Group, who did similar brutal acts in the past, is considered a terrorist organization by the government.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&sid=&nid=0&rid=569191