BULUAN, Maguindanao — The military in Maguindanao on Saturday presented to Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu the 11 former IS – linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who earlier surrendered with their firearms.
Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion commander, personally presented the group of Sindatok Dilna to Mangudadatu, who welcomed them and urged them to help convince their comrades to surrender and avail of government’s livelihood program.
Cabunoc convinced the BIFF faction to surrender and live normal lives following a series of negotiations with the help of Mayor Abdulkarim Langkuno of Paglat town in Maguindanao.
Dilna promised Mangudadatu he will tell his former comrades about the benefits the provincial government will provide them upon their surrender.
The former armed men, labeled as terrorists by the Department of National Defense after they pledge allegiance to the ISIS, turned over 11 high-powered firearms.
Dilna admitted he lost more than three dozens of armed followers in clashes with elements of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.
Tasli Sanoy, another senior BIFF leader, said his group decided to surrender because of the opportunity provided by the governor and military.
“We have been running, we are tired, both the soldiers and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are running after us,” he told Mangudadatu.
“It’s not right we Muslims kill each other, let us explore better and right opportunities to improve our lives,” Mangudadatu told the former rebels in the vernacular.
Aside from cash assistance, Mangudadatu also provided the returnees with farming and fishing equipment so that their livelihood becomes legitimate and productive.
Mangudadatu also promised to provide scholarship for children of the BIFF who decided to surrender.
In neighboring Sultan Kudarat province, Governor Pax Mangudadatu also received five BIFF fighters from Lutayan town who surrendered to the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion.
They were given assistance under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) livelihood package. (Edwin Fernandez/PNA)
