Camp Siongco, Maguindanao – Seventeen former members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters formally received provisional livelihood assistance from the Provincial Government of Maguindanao through its “Anak Na May Ginintuang Layunin-Hintuan Ang Violent Extremism Ngayon (AGILA-HAVEN) Program” at the Provincial Capitol, Buluan, Maguindanao on July 13, 2021.
Fourteen of them were from the BIFF-Bungos Faction and three were from the BIFF-Karialan Faction. They have withdrawn their supports from their respective groups in order to embrace peace and development in their communities. The AGILA-HAVEN Program with the special intervention of Datu Piang Mayor, Hon. Victor Samama provided them with farm machineries (large capacity tractors and hand tractors) for their farming activities.
Among those who witnessed the program were: Brigadier General Jose Narciso, Assistant Division Commander of Joint Task Force Central; Maguindanao Governor, Bai Mariam Mangudadatu; Datu Piang Municipal Mayor, Victor Samama; Ariel Hernandez, Chairman Joint Normalization Committee, OPAPP and Police Colonel Donald Madamba, Provincial Director Maguindanao – PPO.
“To the 17 former violent extremists, humahanga kami sa inyong katapangan na bumalik sa tamang landas at sumuko sa batas. Asahan ninyo na hindi kayo pababayaan ng Probinsya at ng Gobyerno, at tutulungan kayo sa inyong pagsisimula. Sana, ang livelihood assistance na ito na handog sa inyo ng AGILA HAVEN ay lumago pa, at maging malaking tulong sa pagpapayabong ninyo ng inyong kabuhayan at sa inyong bagong buhay”, said BGen. Narciso.
