By Edwin Fernandez
COTABATO CITY – Five members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the military in Maguindanao del Sur on Monday afternoon, handing over firearms, to resume normal lives with their families.
Last week, 10 BIFF members also surrendered to the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade (601Bde) based in the same province.
Lt. Col. William Sabado, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (1Mech), presented the former violent extremists to Brig. Gen. Edgar Catu, the 601Bde commander, during ceremonies held at the 1Mech headquarters in Talayan, Maguindanao del Sur.
“The voluntary surrender of these individuals is a significant step demonstrating their willingness to embrace peace,” Catu said in a statement Tuesday.
The former BIFF members also turned over a .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle, a Garand rifle, two homemade Uzi submachineguns, and one M79 grenade launcher.
As part of the program, government agencies in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Maguindanao del Sur distributed rice, cash assistance, and other relief goods to the surrenderers.
The distribution of cash assistance aims to provide the surrenderers with seed money to support their livelihoods as they rejoin the mainstream.
Catu encouraged other BIFF members still fighting a futile battle to take advantage of the government’s peace program, as well.
The BIFF is known for roadside bombings targeting military forces and for extorting farmers and bus companies in Maguindanao del Sur. (PNA)
