6 alleged BIFF members yield to military

Six alleged members of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to military forces in Maguindanao on Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command said Wednesday.

In a statement, WESMINCOM chief Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., said the BIFF members surrendered themselves and their firearms at the 6th Infantry Battalion headquarters at Sitio Landing Fish, Barangay Buayan in Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

He added that the six members were also members of the Bungos Faction.

The coordination of the local government led by Datu Salibo Mayor Solaiman Sandigan and military led to the surrender of the suspected BIFF members, said Colonel Pedro Balisi, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade chief.

“The surrender of the six exemplifies the dwindling of the group hence we will continue our focused military operations and civil-military cooperation to sustain the momentum,” Balisi said in the same statement.

The surrenderees yielded two M16A1, one M14, and three cal. 30 Garand. Various M16 and M13 magazines and ammunition were also handed over to the military.

Major General  Juvymax Uy, Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) Central, also urged remaining members of the BIFF to surrender and "enjoy a peaceful life with their loved ones."

As of January 2021, 100 BIFF members were killed while 45 surrendered to the JTF Central. -- Consuelo Marquez/BAP, GMA News