REBEL FIREARMS. Five of the eight firearms surrendered by former members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters to military authorities in Maguindanao on Friday (March 27, 2020). The guns, which included a .50-caliber sniper rifle (in a tripod), are held for safekeeping and documentation at the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade headquarters in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Eight combatants of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) separately surrendered to military authorities in Maguindanao on Friday.
Five of the BIFF radicals surrendered with their rifles to the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion (IB) in ceremonies held at the headquarters of the 601st Infantry Brigade (Bde) in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.
Col. Jose Narciso, the 601Bde commander, identified the five BIFF surrenderers as Abdullahsi Zuarto, Saed Sadam Malsek, Mahir Mumna Datumanong, Moktar Saed Pangalao, and Usman Abu Ali.
In a separate program on the same day, three BIFF members identified as Bhuto Oledad, Ebra Kamedon, and Saudi Montawal--all from Barangay Dalgan, Pagalungan, Maguindanao--also voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 7IB of the 602Bde.
“They decided to yield because of relentless military manhunt operations against them and for them to live peacefully with their families,” Narciso said in a statement.
He said the BIFF surrenderers turned in assorted firearms before renouncing their membership with the Daesh-inspired group.
Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, lauded the military field commanders and the local officials for supporting the whole-of-nation approach in dealing with the enemies of the state.
Carreon said he expects more rebels will come out and surrender.
“They (surrenderers) are most welcome to become productive citizens in their respective communities in Maguindanao than to be hunted as outlaws,” Carreon said. (PNA)
