To hear a bit the reasons
why Commander Kato (Ustadz Amiril Umbra Kato) broke
away from the MILF, the following is the excerpt of an
interview with him in Central Mindanao:
Reporter: Ustadz, may we ask you some
questions?
Kato: Yes you may.
Reporter: Is it true that you the one known by
the name Amirul Umbro Kato?
Kato: Yes, it's true.
Reporter: How is your position within the MILF
(Moro Islamic Liberation Front) now?
Kato: I am the commander in the area of the
105th Base Command Defense headquarters, at the
Central Mindanao MILF front.
Reporter: Is it true that you are now breaking
away from the MILF?
Kato: Yes, indeed, the information about my
secession (lost command) from the MILF is true, and it
is not true if there is no reason for me to break
away. As you know the 'lost command' is an English
phrase which means that I am not a member of the MILF
anymore. It means someone who is no longer a member of
a group or organization, and shouldn't someone who is
in an organization merge himself into it? And there
was a desire within me to separate myself from the
MILF's organization, and it means that I am no longer
in the MILF organization.
If possible I would say officially that I am out of
the MILF, and that is my hope and desire. Because, as
you know an official statement that is indispensable
is important, so that the people know what has
actually happened and it is very important for me to
make a decision, so that people do not misjudge.
Reporter: Ustadz, what exactly
did you do to initiate resistance activities in the
area of North Cotabato ?
Kato: Like the information that has reached
you, from what I have presented recently of what
actually happened, so that people do not get me wrong.
Because, you know the incident in North Cotabato as we
talked about earlier, that was really something real
to start a war against the government forces, for as
you are well aware that on 1st July, the forces of the
Filipino government and Cafgu (the volunteer troops
supporting the Government) had confronted and fought
with our troops in the area of Tubag, Alisan in North
Cotabato.
In the battle, none of our friends from the other
units of the MILF helped us, silence... silence.. and
silence, as if it was only us who dealt with them (the
Armed Forces Of the Philippines). When we fought,
dealing with the soldiers of Philippines, we surely
cannot fight alone. As you know, there is a proverb
about the crab that the only stays in its hole, and it
is useless if it does not come out and do activities.
Such is the present situation, of course there is
nothing they can do to ward off the invaders in
various places if they do not come out to fight. That
is what actually happened, and this resistance we are
doing is considered to be a part of the terrorism
acts. So those who struggle truthfully are called
terrorists. If for example they, the Sundalo (Filipino
forces) move to attack us, then we will certainly
fight back, because we are not the people of Tausug,
we are not the people of Visayas, and we are not the
people of Cota but we are the people who defend our
land, which is our rights.
Reporter: Why did the Government make a contest
with a prize of 10 million Pesos to capture you?
Kato: As you know, all the Government's
attempts to attack us were very much in need of costs,
from ammunitions, artilleries, heavy vehicles (tanks),
the cost of the forces and operations of the cost of
fighter planes and helicopters, it all takes enormous
costs.
Perhaps that is what caused the Government to create a
contest to capture me. Or perhaps the Government was
running out of tactic to annihilate us, so much so
that they announced that for anyone who can catch us
alive or dead, and then surrender us to the
government, then the government will reward 10 million
Pesos, yes that's a sign they've run out of tactic.
With regard to war tactics, it is actually not a new
thing in Islam, you already know that Prophet Muhammad
sallallahu alaihi wa sallam in the circumstances of
jihad never ran out of tactics in war against their
enemies, until his enemies in Makkah ran out of
tactic, to the point that they planned to capture and
kill Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam while
announcing that anyone who dare to kill him will get a
prize of 100 khamers. It means that all of the tactics
of the enemies were deployed to confront the power of
Islam, but it has already been the case since a long
time ago, since the time of Prophet Muhammad
sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, therefore we need not be
afraid to confront them. Even though they have
sophisticated battle equipments.
Reporter: Why do disturbance or conflict happen
here, in the province of Maguindanao, such as in
Datupiang, Syarif Aguak, Datu Saudi Municipality, Datu
Munzae, Mamasapano, Talayan and other places in the
province of Maguindanao.
Kato: I view the plan (of the MILF) before was
a bit choked up with the presence of disturbances or
conflicts in Mindanao committed by President Arroyo,
and that was their plan before, their former plan like
what had been disclosed, and had been agreed upon by
the MILF. But the plan that has been running since 10
years ago, by making agreements under the legislation
of the Government of Philippines, produces no result.
And look at the proof, since the agreements are under
the control of the Government, the MILF has always
become like a 'plaything' or the party that is
cheated, tricked and harmed. The Commission Agreement
between the GRP-MILF which has been done since 10
years ago, is always controlled by the judiciary laws
of Philippines, the point here is, despite the
Commission's agreement between the GRP-MILF made in
Malaysia, but was still under the control of the
judiciary laws, it is impossible to produce an outcome
that is favourable to the MILF....
Thus was his explanation in the form of an interview
(translated by Abu Yusuf from Tagalong language) with
regards to his separation from the MILF, the very
famous Moro liberation organization which used to be
led by Sheikh Salamat Hasyim rahimahullah, but now is
no longer worthy to hold the title "MILF Mujahideen"
as they are getting very secular under the leadership
of Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim. In those circumstances, many
or most of the members of the MILF formed new
factions, including the BIFF which is led by him
(Kato).
To this day, the BIFF which is led by Ustadz Amiril
Umbra Kato and which has been operating for more than
4 years, has brought together the Mujahideen who are
sincerely struggling in South Mindanao, with various
progress of their attacks and domination of areas in
Mindanao, because of that he became a new icon for the
Moro jihad trusted by the ummah.
Ustadz Mohammad Ali Tambako, New Leader of BIFF
However, since 3 months ago, around the month of
January 2012 the amir of the BIFF, Ustadz Kato has
suffered stroke which interferes with the health of
this Ulama' in leading their journey of jihad.
Therefore the leaderships of the BIFF did a mushawarah
and decided to appoint a new amir to replace him. So
Ustadz Mohammad Ali Tambako was chosen to be the new
amir of the BIFF.
He is a very young Ulama' and Doctor of Shari'ah, the
Khartoum, Sudan graduate. After finishing his Masters
in Shari'ah in Saudi Arabia.
Although there are parties who still doubt the
leadership of this young Ulama', due to the absence of
a military background that is required in leading a
jihad tandhim. We pray to Allah SWT to always guide
the Mujahideen and given them His Help. Until victory
is achieved and the Daulah Islamiyah is established.
The Amaliyat that Sustains the Establishment of the
BIFF in Mindanao
The Ampatuan incident, namely the Maguindanao massacre
on 24th November 2009, where the governor of Ampatuan
with his armed militias killed the family and
supporters of the candidate for the governor of
Manguda Dato. A total of 57 people, including tens of
journalists, became victims of the massacre. And which
later caused the downfall of governor Dato Andal
Ampatuan for calling himself Dato Andal "fir'aun"
Ampatuan.
Hundreds of family members and militiamen of Ampatuan
were then rounded up by the police and faced the
charges of massacre. Thousands of weapons and
ammunitions belonging to Ampatuan had been forced to
be surrendered and became spoils for various parties
which vied to get hold of them, including the
Mujahideen who got their shares. Datu Andal Ampatuan
was a Governor from the Moro people who became the
'extended hand' of the former president, Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo. The most cruel and ruthless governor
of the region of Maguindanao for killing Muslims
indiscriminately, who obviously are the families of
Mujahideen.
The Mujahideen of the BIFF also obtained abundant
ghonimah from this incident of Datu Adal Ampatuan's
arrest. More than 200 automatic weapons, ranging from
M-16, M14, Ultimax, M2, dozens of M-60 machine guns,
in fact even ' 50 caliber heavy weapons and mortars
became the ghonimah of the Mujahideen.
The Rizq of Allah Ta'ala given to whomever He likes
In the past, when the BIFF were still the DIVISION 105
under the MILF, they were the implacable enemy of Dato
Andal Ampatuan due to their geographical locations
which were equally in the province of Maguindanao.
Therefore, they are the ones who get the huge ghonimah,
that made the Division 105 the strongest division of
the MILF and whose weaponry are the most complete,
i.e. which was led by Ustadz Amiril Umbra Kato.
In the 2008 war, according to the assertion of Ustadz
Amiril Umbra Kato, they received no help, not even one
bullet from the leadership of the MILF. With this dumb
attitude of the MILF officials, therefore since that
incident, they instead became the most feared division
in Maguindanao.
Not to mention the workshops (manufacture of weapons)
with which they have been able to create fearsome
sniper weapons. The barrels of the '50 caliber weapon
have been modified by them to become more potent
sniper weapons, which even outmatch the sniper weapons
from the Barreta types, and are currently widely
produced and can be traded with anyone for an
affordable price.
Due to that, the BIFF has become the most feared
faction in Maguindanao for the government of
Philippines, and become their strongest enemy. May
Allah give them victory, amin.
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