COTABATO CITY(MindaNews / 7 December) — The Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), the armed wing of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), has belied an intelligence report that two of its base commands are coddling local terrorists.

In a statement on Wednesday, Abdulraof “Sammy Al Mansoor” Macacua, BIAF chief and currently the appointed governor of Maguindanao del Norte, “categorically denied” that the front’s 118th and 105th base commands in the two Maguindanao provinces had pledged support to the Islamic State-aligned Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), particularly the Karialan and Bungos factions.

“The BIAF remains committed to the pursuit of lasting peace in the Bangsamoro region and reiterates its adherence to the peace agreements. We firmly reject any notions of supporting actions that run counter to the ongoing peace process,” Macacua said.

He said the MILF condemns the use of violence and that they are dedicated to finding peaceful solutions to conflicts.

“Our focus is fostering understanding, cooperation and mutual respect among all parties involved,” Macacua said.

He urged the public and relevant authorities to verify information through official channels before drawing conclusions.

“Misinformation can undermine the delicate peace-building efforts in the region. Let us remain vigilant against misinformation and strive for unity in our pursuit of lasting peace,” Macacua said. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)