Rebel Freedom Fighters

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The BIFF was formed in December 2010 by Ameril Umbra Kato after he broke with the MILF in 2008, disagreeing with the MILF's acceptance of autonomy rather than full independence. In 2008, after the Philippine Supreme Court nullified the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain, Kato led a contingent of MILF fighters in an attack against civilians. Kato claimed to have 5,000 fighters, but the government said he had only 300. It was not until August 2011 that the MILF recognized the break and declared the BIFF a 'lost command'. The BIFF rejected the 2012 Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro and vowed to continue their fight. In January 2014, after the final annexes were signed, the Armed Forces of the Philippines launched Operation Darkhorse, capturing the BIFF's main camp in Barangay Ganta, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao del Sur, which reportedly had 500 fighters. On February 4, 2014, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander Habib Mujahab Hashim confirmed reports that the BIFF had forged an alliance with his group.

In Their Own Story

On January 25, 2015, the BIFF was involved in the Mamasapano clash alongside the MILF, leading to the deaths of 44 members of the SAF, 18 from the MILF, and five from the BIFF. Following the event, the group engaged in clashes against the AFP, prompting AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang to announce in late February 2015 an all-out offensive against the BIFF. The offensive resulted in more than 100 casualties in the BIFF. It also suffered a split when commander Tambako formed the Justice for Islamic Movement to protect foreign militants hiding in BIFF-controlled areas; he was later captured in General Santos. After founder Ameril Umbra Kato's death, BIFF's former vice-chairman for political affairs, Ismael Abubakar, alias 'Imam Bongos', took over leadership. Among his first moves was the bombing of an outpost of the Philippine Army and two SAF detachments in Maguindanao on April 19, 2015. Abubakar openly declared an alliance with the Islamic State in August 2015, causing unrest. Commander Ustadz Karialan (alias 'Imam Minimbang') split from the group, stating, 'we are not to be swayed by the ISIS ideology because we adhere to the cause of the Moro struggle and teachings of the Koran.' Hardliners who regarded Abubakar as too moderate formed the 'Jamaatul al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar' wing, electing Esmael Abdulmalik (alias 'Abu Toraife') as leader. Ismael Abubakar was reportedly killed at some point in 2017.

Reader's Guide

The BIFF is an Islamist jihadist militant organization based in Mindanao, mostly active in Maguindanao del Sur and other places in central Mindanao. It is a breakaway group from the MILF founded by Ameril Umbra Kato. After Kato's death, the group split into three factions: one aligned with the Islamic State (led by Abu Toraife), and two less radical factions (led by Ismael Abubakar and Ustadz Karialan). Key engagements include Operation Darkhorse (2014), the Mamasapano clash (2015), and the Marawi crisis (2017). The BIFF may have participated in the Battle of Marawi; the Philippine military stated in May 2017 that BIFF fighters were among the jihadists in the city, and Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana claimed in June 2017 that about 40 fighters took part. However, a BIFF spokesman stated in June 2017 that BIFF operations were unrelated to the battle, and MILF leader Murad Ebrahim claimed in July 2018 that BIFF had not participated. After the rebels in Marawi were defeated, many foreign volunteers and ex-members of the Maute group joined BIFF, temporarily boosting its strength. By 2020, BIFF activities declined as factions came under pressure. On 22 April 2024, a shootout in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur, killed Kagui Karialan (leader of the Karialan faction), his brother Saga, and ten other gunmen. In March 2024, Abu Halil, the training officer of the BIFF-Karialan faction, was also killed.

Did You Know?

• The BIFF was formed in December 2010 by Ameril Umbra Kato after he broke with the MILF in 2008.
• Kato claimed to have 5,000 fighters, but the government said he had only 300.
• On February 4, 2014, the MNLF commander Habib Mujahab Hashim confirmed that the BIFF had forged an alliance with his group.
• After Kato's death, the group split into three factions, one of which aligned with the Islamic State.
• On 22 April 2024, Kagui Karialan, leader of the Karialan faction, his brother Saga, and ten other gunmen were killed in a shootout in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao del Sur.