MANILA – The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) on Tuesday said 11 former members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the military over the weekend.
"The continued conduct of decisive military operations by the 92nd Infantry Battalion led to the voluntary surrender of the members of the BIFF-Karialan Faction at the unit’s headquarters in Barangay Nicaan, Libungan, North Cotabato on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 4)," Westmincom public affairs office chief Maj. Andrew Linao said in a statement.
The surrenderers were identified through their aliases Benzar, Lombie, Tenix, Boy, Abu Sumaya, Datu Nor, Nolds, Norhad, Pasyotan, Nasrudin, and Tamen.
They handed over four 7.62mm sniper rifles, one M-79 rifle, two Springfield Garand rifles, three rocket-propelled grenades, and two Uzi 9mm submachine guns.
Linao said the former BIFF members were subjected to the so-called Joint AFP-PNP (Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police) Intelligence Committee validation which entitles them to receive assistance from the "Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit" (TUGON) program of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government.
Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzales said the "snowball of BIFF surrenders" is a result of the convergence among government agencies and stakeholders, including the local government units, military, and police, among others.
"Through our collaborative efforts, the decades-old security concerns in Central Mindanao will soon be totally resolved," Gonzales said in a separate statement.
He also renewed his call to remaining members of the BIFF to surrender peacefully, begin a new life as productive members of society and avail of the livelihood assistance of the government. (PNA)
