CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Four members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) formally surrendered to military and provincial officials here Wednesday.
The surrender was the first-ever recorded by the military here since the formation of the BIFF in 2010, after BIFF founder Ameril Umbra Kato broke off from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front hierarchy due to ideological differences.
In simple ceremonies held in this camp, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) Commander Major Gen. Arnel dela Vega and Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu accepted the surrender of the four, whose names were withheld for security reasons.
The Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion based in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, facilitated the surrender of the BIFF members.
The surrenderers brought with them high-powered firearms — a rocket-propelled grenade with launcher, M16 rifle, Garand rifle, and a Squad Automatic Weapon.
Dela Vega considered the rebels’ surrender a breakthrough in countering violent extremism, considering that it is the first time for any BIFF member to surrender to the government.
“We encourage other members of the BIFF as this is a good opportunity for them to live a better life and (an) eye-opener that the soldiers will not hurt them,” dela Vega said.
He stressed that the 6ID will give the surrenderers refuge until they are ready to return to mainstream society.
Mangudadatu, for his part, said the provincial government of Maguindanao would conduct livelihood training for the former rebels to capacitate them for employment opportunities through income-generating skills.
This year alone, local government units in Maguindanao turned over a total of 364 loose firearms. In addition, 118 firearms were recovered by operating military troops while 81 firearms were surrendered by communist New People’s Army rebels within the 6ID’s area of responsibility. (Noel Punzalan/PNA)
