We commiserate with the families of the nine civilians who were summarily executed by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in separate incidents over the last few days.
The BIFF’s sporadic attacks across the three provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato—including the firing of grenades at a local chapel and an army detachment, hostage-taking, as well as the planting of improvised explosives, indicate an attempt to gain momentum for their bid to destabilize the situation in these areas and garner attention for themselves and their flagging cause.
We pray for the safety of our soldiers who, instead of humbly celebrating the holiday season in their remote posts, have been mobilized to prevent the hostile group from wreaking more harm on the populace.
We also pray for strength and the safety of the civilians who find themselves exposed to the danger of ongoing hostilities.
We ask the leaders of the BIFF to reconsider their violent ways and take heed of the people’s desire for peace and normalcy in their lives.
—PROF. MIRIAM CORONEL-FERRER,
government peace panel chair