September 3, 2012 News: A leader of a militant youth organization has urged the government military establishment to observe utmost care and caution in naming the financiers of the so-called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM)-Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Arsad Solaiman, chair of the Youth for Bangsamoro Genuine Empowerment (YBGE), has asked the government not to be hasty in coming out with the list, saying this might include innocent souls who have nothing to with the anti-people activities of the group.

“Any indiscriminate name listing will be unproductive if the charges include john does or those who will be arrested first and then charged later,” he warned.

The name "John Doe" for males is used as placeholder names for a party whose true identity is unknown or must be withheld in a legal action, case, or discussion.

The military said certain people were funding the attacks being staged by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mindanao.

The military added that the BIFF could not exist and operate in such magnitude without the logistical support of some people.

“Efforts are ongoing to gather evidences against personalities allegedly masterminding these atrocities and providing logistical support (to the BIFF) for filing of appropriate criminal charges,” an assessment paper of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division stated.

However, the military declined to give the names of people involved in the financing of the BIFF operations since August 5.

The BIFM/BIFF is led by Ameril Omra Kato. Reports said that Kato is practically inutile after suffering another stroke last year.

Kato and his followers were expelled from the MILF after they rejected the offer to return to the MILF.

Kato is facing  more than 60 criminal cases such as arson, multiple, murder, frustrated murder, among others, for his involvement in the bloody attacks against civilian communities in 2008 in Central Mindanao following the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision to junk the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD).

“In coordination with the PNP, we have already filed criminal charges against BIFF members involved in the atrocities,” the military added.

“The BIFF is being manipulated by people with vested interests.  BIFF commanders were promised gratuities and other benefits and received large sums of money in exchange for launching the attacks,” the military further added.