THREE members of the Dawlah Islamiya have surrendered to government troops within the area of operations of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), the military reported Saturday, August 20, 2022.
The Westmincom identified the three Dawlah Islamiya surrenderers through their aliases as: Lapong; Habdani; and, Mao.
Major General Roy Galido, commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central, said that Lapong surrendered and handed over a caliber .45 pistol at the 10th Special Forces Company headquarters Friday in Kablon village, Tupi, South Cotabato.
Galido said that Lapong was placed under custodial debriefing at the 5th Special Forces Battalion.
Brigadier General Antonio Nafarrete, newly-installed JTF-Zampelan commander, said that Habdani and Mao surrendered to the troops of the 49th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Lanao del Norte.
Nafarrete said that the two turned over one caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle and one 7.62 Sniper rifle.
The two are currently in the custody of 49IB for proper disposition.
Lieutenant General Alfredo Rosario, Jr., commander of Westmincom, commended the laudable accomplishments of the units.
Rosario also urged the remaining terrorists to make up their minds.
“This is the best time for them to abandon their group and return to the folds of the law and enjoy life with their families,” he added. (SunStar Zamboanga)