Philippines optimistic at least 100 terrorists will surrender in coming year
They receive surrender feelers from Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF terror groups.
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE: The Philippine police and army are optimistic that at least 100 members of two terrorist groups in central Mindanao, some of whose factions are aligned with the Islamic State, will surrender in the next 12 months, it has been reported.
The commander of the army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, reportedly said Friday that their units in the adjoining Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Cotabato provinces have been receiving surrender feelers from members the Dawlah Islamiya and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).
The feelers were channeled through local government units supporting 6ID’s local reconciliation programme for violent religious extremists, reported The Philippine Star.
The director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Pro-Bar), Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza, said that they are trying to secure the surrender of at least 20 Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members from October to December 2023.
“We are doing this with the help of local government units,” Nobleza was quoted as saying.
6ID and Pro-Bar units had separately worked out the surrender of 417 Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members since 2021, reported The Philippine Star further.
Armed forces chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. on Thursday hailed the 6ID’s success in securing the surrender of hundreds of Dawlah Islamiya and BIFF members via backdoor dialogues.
“We learned that units of the 6ID have been receiving more surrender feelers from violent religious extremists. That is a clear indication that the division’s peace and reconciliation efforts are succeeding,” Brawner reportedly told the media.
He addressed the media during a ceremony to unveil a shrine to peace in the form of an 18-foot replica of the famous M16 rifle at Camp Siongco, 6ID’s headquarters, in Maguindanao del Norte province.
The replica was built from the ashes and fragments of firearms recovered from terrorists, according to 6ID in a statement.