The separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel organization in the country headed by Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim, has renewed its war against criminality, including kidnapping, in the wake of the abduction of Irish priest Michael Sinnott.

Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have pointed to some members of the Moro rebel group in Lanao del Norte as having Sinnott in their custody, an accusation the MILF has rejected.

Eid Kabalu, chief of the MILF’s Civil-Military Department and spokesman for military affairs, said Wednesday over the telephone that the chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF-MILF) issued on October 17 an order concerning the group’s continuing war against banditry, including kidnapping.

“BIAF Chief of Staff Brother Sammy Al-Mansoor issued a directive to Commander Benjie Midtimbang reminding him of the MILF’s war against all forms of criminality,” said Kabalu.

The MILF spokesman said Midtimbang heads the Western Mindanao Front – consisting of the 113rd Base Command, 114 Base Command, and 117 Base Command – that has jurisdiction over the island provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), such as Sulu, Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Other parts of the ARMM are Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, and the city of Marawi.

Kabalu said Al-Mansoor’s directive, which included an order to some 200 MILF forces to join the hunt and safe rescue of the ailing Irish Catholic clergyman, was made a week after the abduction in Pagadian City.

“The abduction has already disrupted the normal course of everyday life of the people in the affected areas, not to mention peace, security and stability,” Kabalu said, paraphrasing the order.

“In this regard, you are hereby reminded of the policy that the MILF has declared war against all forms of criminality, including kidnapping,” Al-Mansoor’s order said. “Therefore, you are hereby ordered to take action.”