BIFF weapons officially turned over to the military in Maguindanao del Sur after 15 of BIFF members surrendered on Monday, March 25, 2024. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMY
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte — Fifteen armed men identified with the extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the Philippine Army during the fasting month of Ramadan, the military in this camp said.
Brigadier General Oriel Pangcog, 6th Infantry Brigade commander, welcomed the surrender of the 15 active BIFF members.
Colonel Michael Glenn Manansala, 6th Infantry (Redskin) Battalion commander, who facilitated the surrender, said the returnees on Monday yielded their high-powered firearms to the 6th headquarters in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur.
Both officers presented the former combatants to Maguindanao del Sur Vice Gov. Nathaniel Midtimbang in a ceremony that also included the presentation of livelihood assistance from the provincial government to the surrenderers.
READ: 16 ‘tired’ BIFF members surrender to Army in Maguindanao
Among the firearms that the BIFF turned over to the military were an 81-mm mortar launcher and two homemade caliber 50 Barrett rifles.
Each of the surrenderers received a sack of rice and other monetary and non-monetary assistance from the provincial government.
“Tell your colleague to reconsider returning to the fold of the law and live peacefully with your loved ones,” Major General Alex S. Rillera PA, 6th ID commander, told the surrenderers.
Since January, more than 30 extremists operating in the two Maguindanao provinces have surrendered to the military.