Eleven Filipino terrorists under reportedly surrendered IS leader turn themselves in
The Daulah Islamiyah-Turaifie Group militants turn over firearms to the Philippine Army.
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Eleven pro-Islamic State terrorists under a reportedly surrendered leader turned themselves in to the Philippine Army in the southern province of Maguindanao del Sur on Friday (June 21), said the military.
The 6th Infantry Battalion (6IB) facilitated the surrender of the 11 local terrorists under Daulah Islamiyah-Turaifie Group (DI-TG) at 6IB headquarters in Datu Piang district, Maguindanao Del Sur, the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said in a statement Sunday (June 23).
The former terrorists handed over a Bushmaster rifle, three 40mm M79 grenade launchers, one .30 sniper rifle, a 60mm mortar, one 7.62mm sniper rifle, two 9mm Uzi, one .45 pistol and one .38 revolver.
The surrendered war materials were deposited at 6IB headquarters for safekeeping and proper disposition.
Abu Turaifie, whose real name is Esmail Abdulmalik, was touted to be the emir of IS in Southeast Asia last year.
He was reported to have surrendered last August, a development that Philippine authorities have not commented on despite SEA MILITANCY’S requests for confirmation.
SEA MILITANCY has also reached out to Westmincom for comment on the latest status of Abu Turaifie.
The Turaifie Group is also known as the “Turaifie faction” of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), a local terror group in the southern Philippines.
The BIFF has two other factions, the Bungos and Karialan factions, the latter a group whose leader was killed along with 11 followers during a military operation in April.
It is not clear if the Karialan faction has gone defunct with their leader’s killing.
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Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, the commander of Westmincom, lauded the 6IB for their continuous effort to destabilise the remaining rebel groups in Maguindanao del Sur.
The commander also encouraged the remaining militants to return to the fold of the law and commit to a harmonious life.
“The surrender of the 11 DI-TG members is a testament to the relentless effort of the AFP to end terrorism in the areas inflicted by these rebel groups,” he said in the statement, using the abbreviation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“We will ensure that this development will go on until terrorism is fully eradicated.”
The surrendered personalities will be enrolled in AGILA-HAVEN Programme of the local government of Maguindanao del Sur, a platform that gives former rebels the opportunity to start anew, receive livelihood opportunities and other assistance after successful a surrender, added Westmincom.
They will also be included in the Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit (Tugon) Programme of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) Government.
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