Six terrorists surrender in southern Philippines

They were with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters terror group.

A terrorist surrenders and hands over his weapon to a Philippine army official in Cotabato province on Aug. 18, 2023. (Westmincom pic)

COTABATO: Six terrorists surrendered to Philippine authorities in the southern province of Cotabato on Friday (Aug. 18)

The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), in a statement Monday (Aug. 21), identified the six as members of the Karialan faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) terror group.

Karialan is reportedly a BIFF faction that is not aligned with IS while two others are.

Three of the six former violent extremists surrendered to the army’s 90th Infantry Battalion (90IB) headquarters in Pikit municipality and handed over two Garand rifles and one cal .30 Barrett sniper rifle. 

The other three yielded to Community Support Program-Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (CSP-PCVE) operators also in Pikit.

They handed over one M14 rifle with a magazine, one Garand rifle with a magazine clip, one cal .45 pistol with a magazine and assorted ammunition. 

Col. Neil Alfonso Roldan, the 602nd Infantry Brigade’s deputy commander, in the statement, attributed the influx of surrenders to the 90IB's continuing CSP-PCVE efforts to locate and encourage the remaining members of the BIFF to return to the fold of the law and conduct a series of peace dialogues in the area.

Meanwhile, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, also in the statement, said the military’s successful implementation is a result of the collaborative efforts of the operating troops, partner agencies, local government units and other stakeholders.