16 Moro terrorists surrender to Philippine authorities
They were members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters terror group.
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE: Sixteen members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) terror group operating in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao del Sur surrendered to the military on Thursday (May 11).
The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Battalion (6IB) commander, Lt. Col. Michael Glenn Manansala, in a statement Friday (May 12), said the rebels returned to be with their families and communities and to help with the peace programmes of the Philippine government.
They turned over one M653 rifle, one M16A1 rifle, one 60mm mortar, two Garand rifles, two cal .30 sniper rifles, one cal .50 sniper rifle, two M79 grenade launchers, one RPG, two 7.62mm sniper rifles, one M14 and one 40mm RPG.
Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, the 601st Infantry Brigade commander, said four of them were leaders and 12 regular members of the BIFF - Karialan faction. Â
Eleven of them surrendered through the efforts of 6IB while five turned themselves in to the Police Regional Office 12.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, the 6th Infantry Division (6ID) and Joint Task Force Central commander, said the surrender was the result of the government's whole-of-nation approach to peace.
6ID in the statement said 84 BIFF members had been neutralised so far this year.Â
Meanwhile, an Abu Sayyaf member surrendered in Basilan province, it has been reported.Â
Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, reportedly said Saturday the Abu Sayyaf member also turned in a .30 caliber M1 Garand rifle to Lamitan City mayor Roderick Furigay before he renounced his membership with the group.
Nobleza did not identify the Abu Sayyaf member for his safety owing to the group’s reputation for attacking members who have surrendered and their relatives.