SEVEN more remnants of the Maute group have surrendered to authorities in Lanao del Sur, the military reported Friday, November 16.

Since October, a total of 29 Maute fighters have surrendered to the Joint Task Force Ranao troops in Lanao del Sur.

Lieutenant Colonel Ian Noel Ignes, Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion commander, said the group surrendered to them around 2 p.m. Thursday, November 15, in Lumbaca Unayan, Lanao del Sur.

Ignes said they yielded seven firearms that included two M-16 Armalite riles, one M-14 rifle, one Uzi submachinegun, two caliber .45 pistols and one 9-mm pistol.

“The joint efforts of the LGUs (local government units) and our troops in the ground made possible the successful surrender (of the group),” Ignes said.

He said the seven Maute surrenderers, whose identities were withheld, were placed under custodial debriefing.

Major General Roseller Murillo, Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander, commended the efforts of the troops and the concerned stakeholders.

“The continuous surrender of Mautes entails weakening of their organizational leadership and capabilities, and we encourage others to lay down their arms and live peacefully,” said Murillo, who is also the commander of the Joint Task Force

Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao provinces). (SunStar Philippines)