WEARY COMBATANTS. Moro extremists who yield to the Army pose with government security forces in Maguindanao after turning over high-powered firearms during surrender rites in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town on Wednesday (March 30, 2022). The surrenderers, all members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters– Karialan faction, say they are all tired of the relentless military operations against them. (Photo courtesy of 40IB)
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A dozen Moro extremists have decided to surrender and hand over their high-powered firearms to authorities following the series of military campaigns in Maguindanao.
In a statement Thursday, Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division commander, said the 12 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, including two sub-leaders, surrendered to the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion (40IB) in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao.
The rebels, who surrendered Wednesday afternoon, were led by Anwar Pegas, a sub-leader of the BIFF-Karialan faction, and his deputy, Zukarno Sailila.
Lt. Colonel Edwin Alburo, the 40IB commander, said the rebels brought with them two M14 rifles, two M16 rifles, a Carbine rifle, two .50-caliber Barret sniper rifles, two 9mm submachine guns, a 40mm rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, two M79 grenade launchers, and a 40mm RPG ammunition.
Alburo said the former combatants experienced hardships and starvation while evading the military operations in the forests and the marshland of Maguindanao.
Alburo, in his report to the 6ID, said the rebels admitted they were lured to join a "false ideology that made them abandon their families."
Uy said the number of BIFF surrenderers rose in recent weeks, indicating that the BIFF has weakened in Central Mindanao.
"We remain optimistic that these groups, including the BIFF-Karialan faction, are nearing its end," Uy said.
Since January, almost 100 BIFFs have surrendered to the Army-led Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) under the stewardship of the 6ID commander.
Uy said more than 90 firearms have also been turned in by the surrenderers. (PNA)
