SIX members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to authorities in North Cotabato, the military reported Saturday, April 22, 2023.
Major General Alex Rillera, Joint Task Force Central commander, said the surrenderers are followers of the BIFF-Karialan and Bungos Factions.
They submitted themselves to Brigadier General Donald Gumiran, commander of the 602nd Infantry Brigade, at the headquarters of the 34th Infantry Battalion (IB) on Friday, April 21, in Salunayan village, Midsayap, North Cotabato.
The BIFF surrenderers handed over their high-powered firearms and assorted ammunition to the military, including two 7.62-millimeter (MM) Sniper rifles, one 7.62-mm rifle, one .30 caliber Garand rifle, one M79 grenade launcher, and one M14 Springfield rifle.
Gumiran attributed the surrender of the six BIFF followers to the joint efforts of the intelligence units, the 34IB, and the 6th Civil-Military Operations Battalion.
They were formally presented to Midsayap Mayor Rolly Sacdalan and are currently undergoing custodial debriefing facilitated by the 34IB. They received food packs as initial assistance.
Lieutenant General Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command, commended the BIFF-surrenderers for making the right decision.
“Rest assured that we will immediately process their enrollment in the government’s reintegration program,” he said. (SunStar Zamboanga)