CAMP SIONGCO, MAGUINDANAO – Fourteen members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrender anew to Joint Task Force Central forces in Upi, Maguindanao on December 3, 2021. These 14 former extremists belong to BIFF-Bungos Faction and surrendered with them 12 high-powered firearms and five (5) explosives.
Major General Juvymax Uy, Commander of the Joint Task Force Central and the 6th Infantry Division expressed his appreciation to the decision of the 14 former BIFF members to return to the folds of the law and to live peaceful lives with their families.
The 14 former extremists were presented by Lt. Col. Jonathan Pondanera, Commander of 57th Infantry Battalion, at Headquarters 57IB, Camp Edwards, Brgy. Mirab, Upi, Maguindanao and was welcomed by Brig. Gen. Eduardo Gubat, 603rd Infantry Brigade Commander; Ustadz Abdulatip Pinagayao, Maguindanao Cultural Affairs Office (MCAO) Planning Officer; and the Local Chief Executives of the Municipalities of Upi and South Upi, all of Maguindanao Province.
The surrendered firearms includes one (1) 60mm Mortar, one (1) M16A1 Rifle, two (2) M203 Grenade Launchers, two (2) 7.62 M14 Rifles, one (1) Cal .30 Garand Rifle, one (1) Cal .30 Sniper Rifle, one (1) Cal .50 Barrett Sniper Rifle, two (2) Rocket-Propelled Grenades, and one (1) 12-Gauge Shotgun. On the other hand, the surrenderers also turned-over one (1) Jetmatic Improvised Explosive Device and four (4) Improvised Hand Grenades.
Since January of this year, the Joint Task Force Central alongside the Local Government Units of South and Central Mindanao has facilitated the surrender of more than 300 former BIFF and Daulah Islamiya members. Most of these former extremists have already received livelihood assistance under the AGILA – HAVEN (Anak Na May Ginintuang Layunin Upang Hintuan Ang Violent Extremism Ngayon) Program of Maguindanao Province while the new surrenderers are still in process to receive their respective assistance for them to start living normal, peaceful, and sustainable lives with their families.
“Together with our partners from the Local Government Units, religious sector, and the community, our dream of a peaceful and developed South and Central Mindanao is within reach,” stressed by Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy while calling on the remaining BIFF and DI members to return to the folds of the law and start living a peaceful life with their family.
