Yusop (also Yusoph) Jikiri (1954 – October 17, 2020) was a Filipino politician, leader within the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and governor (2001–2004) of Sulu Province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Jikiri joined the Moro National Liberation Front and became one of their top commanders, eventually rising to become Chief of Staff under Nur Misuari.
Responding to news of the delay, Jikiri's supporters stormed the gates of Camp Teodulfo Bautista (104th Army Brigade), where the COMELEC canvassing office was located.
In September 2003 Jikiri was the target of an ambush staged by Abu Sayyaf Group leader Albader Parad in Indanan.
[6] As chairman, he led the MNLF on a strongly pro-Government course, conducting joint operations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines against insurgents with the Abu Sayyaf Group.
[7] Jikiri was also instrumental in preventing the political exclusion of Sulo-based MNLF factions in the formation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Under his leadership, the MNLF integrated roughly 7,500 former MNFL insurgents into the Philippines Armed Forces as part of obligations under the 1996 Peace Agreement.
[7] The unit was proposed as a MNLF policing force that could pursue and interdict gangs of the Abu Sayyaf Group that was regularly conducting kidnap-for-ransom attacks across the Sulu at the time.
In June 2017, the then-Commander of Joint Task Force Sulu, Cirilito Sobejana greenlit Jikiri's proposal under the condition that the MNLF unit would act in a supporting role to the JTF-Sulu, tasked with restricting the movement of Abu Sayyaf groups, but without the authority to act unilaterally.
Following Jikiri's death, Tan was described as the biggest beneficiary, immediately mobilising his political networks against integration into the Mindanao-mainland's BARMM process.
[7] Despite this, Sema was selected as caretaker chair at a November 2020 meeting in Maguindanao, leading to Jakiri's son threatening to reject the chairmanship unless Sulu was given more executive representation in the MNLF.