Military operations compel 6 BIFF members to surrender in Maguindanao

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

**BIFF BACK TO THE FOLD OF LAW:** Six members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have surrendered with their firearms to Col. Pedro Balisi, Jr., commander of the 1st Mechanized Brigade at the unit’s headquarters at Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan municipality in Maguindanao. The BIFF rebels are residents of Datu Abdullah Sangki and Sultan sa Barongis municipalities. Their surrender to the military was also witnessed by Mayor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu of Datu Abdullah Sangki and Mayor Mamatanto Mamantal of Sultan sa Barongis. (Contributed Photo)

COTABATO CITY

Six members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters yielded to the military troops in Maguindanao on Tuesday due to the intensified military operations.

Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) on Wednesday said the successful surrender of the six was through the efforts of the units under the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

“Our troops from the Joint Task Force Central continue to bolster our civil-military cooperation efforts with partner stakeholders to put an end to terrorism in central Mindanao and to convince the remaining terrorists to end their armed struggle and return into the mainstream society,” Lt. Gen. Vinluan, Jr. stated.

The six surrendered personalities, who are residents of Barangay Darampua, Sultan sa Barongis and Barangay Kaya-Kaya, Datu Abdullah Sangki, both of Maguindanao, turned over one 5.56mm M653 rifle, one Cal. 30 M1 Garand converted to M14 rifle, one Cal. 30 Carbine, and one Cal. 30 M1 Garand.

Subject personalities were presented to Col. Pedro Balisi, Jr., commander of the 1st Mech Bde at the unit’s headquarters in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

“I commend the troops for their resolve to end terrorism here in Maguindanao,” said Col. Balisi, Jr.

The presentation of former rebels was witnessed by Datu Abdullah Sangki Mayor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu and Sultan sa Barongis Mayor Mamatanto Mamantal.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Joint Task Force Central said, “We are very thankful to the local government units and partner stakeholders for their support in our quest for lasting peace here in central Mindanao”.

The surrendered personalities are undergoing custodial debriefing while the firearms are placed under the custody of 1Mech Bde for documentation.

Since January 2021, a total of 80 BIFF personalities were neutralized, 38 of whom were killed and 42 surrendered. Additionally, the government forces gained a total of 47 firearms, 40 of which were surrendered, and seven were recovered. JIJ