MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been ordered to take the offensive against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) after seeing an increase in the militant group’s membership amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar issued the statement after Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. noted that the BIFF’s recruitment activities and attacks have increased amide the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eleazar, who agreed with Galvez’s observation, said it is now “easy” for the BIFF to recruit members because “the pandemic has severely affected the livelihood of many people in Mindanao.”
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Keep on reading: PNP ‘on offensive’ vs BIFF as militant group beefs up recruitment