BRIEF HISTORY OF DIFFERENT

SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES SEPARATIST GROUPS

(SPSGS) AND INTERNATIONAL THREAT GROUPS
OPERATING IN THE PHILIPPINES
WARNING:

UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

CONTAINED IN ATTACHED PRESENTATION, WOULD
ENDANGER NATIONAL SECURITY, PEACE AND ORDER
AND PUBLIC SAFETY, CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO THE
INTEREST OR PRESTIGE TO THE NATION OR OF ANY
GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITY OR WOULD BE OF GREAT
ADVANTAGE TO A FOREIGN NATION.
 MORO NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (MNLF)
 18 March 1968 – MNLF as a secessionist political
organization was founded by Moro Council of Elders and
thereafter designated Nur MISUARI as Chairman. The
group waged war against Marcos gov’t .
 1 Aug 89 – Philippine Congress enacted RA 6734 creating
Autonomous Region Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in
compliance to the 1976 Tri-Partite Tripoli Agreement signed
by Gov’t Republic of the Philippines (GRP,) MNLF and
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), an organization
of rich Arab and Muslim nations then chaired by Libyan
President Moamar Khadaffi .
 2 Sep 96 – signing of Final Peace Agreement between Gov’t
Republic of the Philippines (GRP) & MNLF. Misuari
became the first gov’t appointed ARMM governor.
 MORO NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (MNLF)

 MNLF split into 3 Factions - due to the issues on

quality of leadership (subjectivism) and some policies,
to wit:
a. MNLF - Misuari Faction (Tausog dominated) - original
MNLF forged Final Peace Agreement with Ramos go’vt on 2
Sep 96, but has current disagreement with Aquino III regime.
b. MNLF - 15 Executive Council-Muslimin Sema
(Maguindaonon dominated) (acknowledged 2 Sep 96 Peace
Agreement with gov’t)
c. MNLF – Abul Khayr Alonto Faction (Maranao
dominated) recently separated from Misuari MNLF faction
(with existing Peace Agreement with gov’t)
 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF)

 Violent and Non- Activities : (Before MNLF forged

peace accord with gov’t)
Infiltration of Muslim sectoral groups, high
profile kidnap-for-ransom, bomb making & bombing,
illegal drugs trafficking, robbery/extortion,
revolutionary taxation (Zakat)
assassination/liquidations, ambushes, raids,
bombings and other illegal activities.
 MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF)

 1977 – MILF is an MNLF reformist breakaway

group founded by Hashim SALAMAT, former
MNLF Comdr under Chairman Misuari.

 Murad Ebrahim - replaced Hashim SALAMAT after

the latter died of illness.
 MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF)
Political Goal: Originally , separation of Mindanao, Sulu, &
Palawan from Phil territory & establish an independent
Islamic State. But now is seeking for Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region

 Waged war against Marcos gov’t since its creation in 1977.

 27 Mar 14 - Gov’t & MILF signed the historic

Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro for the
passage of Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) creating Bangsamoro
Juridical Entity to replace ARMM. BBL is currently pending
review before Congress.
 MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF)

MILF - (split into 2 Factions)

a. MILF - Hadji Murad Ibrahim group (current

Peace Agreement with gov’t)
b. MILF-BIFF – breakaway MILF Group under Ustadz Ameril
Umbra Kato

BIFM/BIFF (formerly known as MILF-BIFF) - still headed by

Ustadz Ameril Umbra Kato (at war with the gov’t)

JIM (Justice for Islamic Movement) – breakaway group of

BIFM/BIFF headed by Mohammad Ali Tambako was
organized after the Mamasapano encounter incident. He
was arrested by joined PNP and AFP units on 16 Mar 15 at
Brgy Calumpang, General Santos City.
 MORO ISLAMIC LIBERATION FRONT (MILF)

 Violent and Non- Activities: (Before MILF forged

peace accord with gov’t)

 Infiltration of Muslim sectoral groups, high

profile kidnap-for-ransom, bomb making &
bombing, illegal drugs trafficking, robbery/
extortion, revolutionary taxation (Zakat)
assassination/liquidation, ambush, etc.
Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement/Fighters
(BIFM/BIFF)
 2008 - an MILF breakaway group founded by Ustadz Ameril
UMBRA KATO (now deceased), former MILFComdr, 105th
Base Command. After his death early this year (2015) was
succeeded by Sheik Hassan Abubakar

 2012 - opposed the Peace talks entered between GRP and

MILF.
 Political Goal: independent Bangsamoro Islamic State
covering Mindanao, Palawan, Sulu and Sabah (North Borneo).
 Violent Activities: high profile kidnap-for-ransom, bomb making
& bombing, illegal drugs trafficking, robbery/
extortion, assassination/liquidation, ambush, etc.
 JUSTICE FOR ISLAMIC MOVEMENT (JIM)

 JIM – breakaway group of BIFM/BIFF headed by

Mohammad Ali Tambako was organized after the
Mamasapano encounter incident happened on 25 January
2015.

- He was arrested by joined PNP and AFP units on 16 Mar

15 at Brgy Calumpang, General Santos City.

 Political Goal: creation of Bangsamoro Islamic state

composed of Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan and Sabah for
Muslim minority in southern Philippines.

 Violent Activities: High profile kidnap-for ransom/

extortion, liquidation/assassination, piracy, ambush,
bombing, illegal drug trafficking, etc.
 ABU SAYYAF GROUP (ASG)
 Abu Sayyaf means: “ The Bearer of the Sword”.
 1991- a militant group founded by Abdulrajak
JANJALANI. After his death, the group splintered into
several small groups.
 Political Goal: creation of Bangsamoro Islamic state
composed of Mindanao, Sulu, Palawan and Sabah for
Muslim minority in southern Philippines.
 Tactical alliance with renegade MILF, BIFF & MNLF
members & Jemaah Islamiyah (J) & Al Qaeda).
 Violent Activities: High profile kidnap-for ransom/
extortion, liquidation/assassination, piracy, ambush,
bombing, illegal drug trafficking, etc.
 RAJAH SOLAIMAN MOVEMENT (RSM)
 1991 – founded by Ahmed Santos, a Balik- islam and
composed of Balik-islam Filipino Christians.

 Political Goal: Separation of Mindanao, Sulu, & Palawan from Phil

territory & establish an independent Islamic State.

 Reportedly, being financed by Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah

and Al Qaeda.

 The group became dormant/Inactive after the arrest of their

leader Ahmed Santos.

 Violent Activities: kidnapping-for-ransom, ambush, raid,

robbery/extortion, assassination/liquidation, illegal drug
trafficking, and other illegal activities operating in southern
Philippines.
 International Islamic Terrorist Groups.
 Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)
 1992 – International Islamic Terrorist group founded
by Indonesian Islamist Abdullah Sungkar in
Malaysia.
 Political Goal: seeks for the establishment of
Muslim Fundamentalist state and this group active
in Southeast Asian countries.
 Activities: high profile bombing, kidnapping-for-
ransom, assassination/liquidation, and other hostilities
targeting US and other western personalities and
interests.
 International Islamic Terrorism.
 Al Qaeda
 Founded by Osama Bin Ladin, a rich Saudi Arabian national,
expelled by Saudi Arabia gov’t for advocating Islamic
fundamentalism.
 International terrorist network with linkages to terrorist
groups operating worldwide.
 Organization’s Goal: liberation of western influenced Muslim
countries and install a fundamentalist Islamic form of gov’t.
 Violent and Non- Activities: Extending financial/logistical
support to terror groups for their bombing, drug trafficking,
kidnapping-for-ransom, robbery/extortion,
assassination/liquidation and other illegal operations
targeting US and other western interests.
 Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)/
Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL)
 ISIS fighters are operating w/in Iraq and Syria territories
 ISIL fighters are operating w/in Iraq and Libya territories
 Anti-Christian Islamic group fighting against US gov’t and
its allies.
 Abu Bakral Baghdadi, ISIS leader and a religious islamic
extremist and self proclaimed Caliph and descendant of
Mohammad.
 Controlled areas are greater than the size of other
countries. Their fighters come from islamic countries
Middle East (Syria, Libya, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Egypt,
Jordan, Lebanon, etc), former Soviet countries, North
Africa (Sudan, Somalia), Western Europe and other
Islamic regions.
 WARNING

This presentation is treated

“CONFIDENTIAL”
for it contains classified and
declassified documents.