EIGHT combatants of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to authorities Friday, September 2, 2022, in Maguindanao.
The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said in a statement Saturday, September 3, that the eight BIFF combatants surrendered in Zapakan village, Radjah Buayan, Maguindanao, through the efforts of the 33rd Infantry Battalion (IB) troopers.
The eight BIFF surrenderers were subsequently received by Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Cadiente Jr., commander of the 33IB.
Cadiente did not release the identities of the surrenderers except to say they belong to the BIFF-Karialan Faction.
He said the BIFF surrenderers yielded the following firearms: four Garand rifles, one M203 Grenade Launcher, one M79 Grenade Launcher, one Mosin Nagant rifle, one M1911 caliber .45 pistol, and two 40-millimeter ammunition.
Major General Roy Galido, commander of Joint Task Force (JTF)-Central, said that they will process the enrolment of the BIFF surrenderers in the reintegration program of the government.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Alfredo Rosario, Jr. commended the troops of JTF-Central for the remarkable feat.
“Rest assured that our security and civil-military operations will never falter until lasting peace is attained in our area of operation,” he added. (SunStar Zamboanga)