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6 Dawlah Islamiya terrorists surrender in Lanao Sur

By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.

December 4, 2020, 2:14 pm

<p><strong>NEW LIFE.</strong> Six ISIS-inspired Dawlah Islamiya terrorists surrender to the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tapocan, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur on Thursday (Dec. 3, 2020). They were later presented to the municipality of Piagapo. <em>(Photo courtesy of the 82IB)</em></p>

NEW LIFE. Six ISIS-inspired Dawlah Islamiya terrorists surrender to the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Barangay Tapocan, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur on Thursday (Dec. 3, 2020). They were later presented to the municipality of Piagapo. (Photo courtesy of the 82IB)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Six Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terrorists have surrendered as the government remains relentless in its Community Support Program to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CSP-PVE) campaign in Lanao del Sur, officials announced Friday.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said they surrendered around 9 a.m. Thursday to the troops of the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) led by Lt. Col. Rafman Altre in Barangay Tapocan, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur.

Vinluan said the six DI terrorists surrendered through the CSP-PVE drive initiated by the troops in collaboration with the officials and religious leaders in the village.

Altre identified the surrenderers as Abdulhalim Esra, 24; Nabil Amer Esra, 22; Nasib Malik, 29; Jalani Aminola, 24; Sadam Pangandamun, 29; and, Saide Pangandamun, 29.

Altre said they also yielded two high-powered firearms.

He said the six surrenderers were involved in the attack on the Marantao detachment in 2017 which wounded four soldiers.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, has urged the remaining DI members to lay down their arms and end the senseless violence in the Lanao.

“We will remain relentless in our campaign against the remaining DIs in the province, we will also intensify our reintegration efforts with our convergence to stakeholders in order to address not only the needs of our returnees but of their families' as well,” Cuerpo added.

Maj. Gen. Gene Ponio, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, lauded the 82IB and the civilian stakeholders involved in the successful surrender of the six DI members.

“Truly, our campaign against terrorism also relies on the cooperation and involvement of the local government units, datus, ulamas and even the local populace itself,” Ponio said.

“We can defeat terrorism by whole-of-nation approach, trusting and helping each other, so that our future generations will inherit the just and lasting peace,” he added.

The surrender of the six has brought to a total of 10 DI terrorists who surrendered to the 82IB this week in Lanao del Sur province.

On Monday, four DI members surrendered to the 82IB in Agus 2, Barangay Pawak, Saguiaran, Lanao del Sur.

They yielded a rocket-propelled grenade, an M-79 grenade launcher, a KG9 sub-machine gun, and a caliber .45 pistol.

“This positive result manifests the effectiveness of our CSP-PVE effort. Rest assured that we will continuously implement this program to convince the remaining DI-MG (Dawlh Islamiya-Maute Group) members to return to the mainstream society,” Cuerpo said. (PNA)

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