11 terrorists surrender to Philippine military
They are members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.
NORTH COTABATO: Eleven Moro terrorists surrendered to the Philippine military recently.
Below is a press release on the surrender from the Western Mindanao Command:
Western Mindanao Command Chief, Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, said that the downfall of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) is near at hand as 11 former violent extremists yielded to the military on November 4, 2023.
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.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, Commander of Joint Task Force Central, said the surrendered personalities are known by the following aliases: Benzar, Lombie, Tenix, Boy, Abu Sumaya, Datu Nor, Nolds, Norhad, Pasyotan, Nasrudin, and Tamen.
The former violent extremists handed over four 7.62mm Sniper rifles, one M79 rifle, two Spring Field Garand rifles, three Rocket-Propelled Grenades, and two Uzi 9mm Submachine Guns.
Surrendered personalities underwent Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) validation, which entitled them to receive assistance from the Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit (TUGON) program of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government.
“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,” Lt. Gen. Gonzales stated.
Lt. Gen. Gonzales reiterated his call to the 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.