CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte – The commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters under the Karialan Faction voluntarily surrendered to the 90th Infantry (Bigkis-lahi) Battalion along with 43 of his men in Kabacan, Cotabato this morning of December 9, 2022.
Among those who surrendered are four (4) sub-leaders and seven (7) bomb experts of the BIFF and they surrendered 34 assorted weapons and nine (9) high explosives ammunition according to Lieutenant Colonel Rommel Mundala, Battalion Commander of 90IB.
“They realized that it was time to give up what they were fighting for and they wanted to live a normal life with their families”, added Lt. Col. Mundala.
The 90IB now has in its custody one (1) M14 Rifle, five (5) .45 caliber pistols, two (2) Ingrams, one (1) Carbine, one (1) RPG2, six (6) Uzis, six (6) Thompsons, two (2) M79 Grenade Launchers, two (2) 7.62mm Guns, eight (8) RPGs, eight (8) RPG Fragmentation-Type Rounds and one (1) RPG High Explosive Anti-Tank ( HEAT) round.
The conversion of the former BIFF rebels was made possible by the efforts of the armies with the support of the Local Government Unit according to Col. Donald Gumiran, 602Bde Commander.
“The surrender is the result of the joint effort of the 90th Infantry Battalion and the intelligence units deployed in the province”, added Col. Follow
The enrollment of former violent extremists in the government’s reintegration program will be subject to the process according to Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, JTF Central Commander.
“Their documents will also be processed for enrollment in the reintegration program of the government,” said JTFC Commander Maj. Gen. Roy Galido.
JTF Central and 6ID once again called on the victims of BIFF’s disinformation to return to the government for the sake of their relatives.
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