BIFF men yield to MILF after 3 weeks of fighting

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 22): BIFF men yield to MILF after 3 weeks of fighting

For fear of their life, including their families, 11 members of ISIS-inspired armed group in Maguindanao on Monday surrendered to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leaders following three weeks of fighting between former comrades in arms.

Commander Haon of the MILF said the 11 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) voluntarily surrendered to joint MILF Task Force Ittihad (Unity), police and military forces with their firearms.

They belong to Jaamatul Mujahireen Al Wansar in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao under Esmael Abdulmalik alias “Commander Toraife.”

Sr. Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police provincial director, said the BIFF who yielded had asked to remain unidentified for the protection of their families.

After their surrender, the BIFF fighters vowed before the Holy Qur’an in front of Muslim Imam Uztadz Muhideen that they will no longer rejoin the BIFF.

The “reformed BIFF” later guided Commander Haon in an area in Barangay Andavit where the BIFF hid 11 improvised explosive devices they were to use against the MILF and the military in Maguindanao.

Commander Haon turned over the recovered IEDs, composed of 60 and 81 mm mortars, to the Maguindanao police provincial office.

The MILF is still studying whether to let the surrenderees rejoin the MILF or they will be turned over to the government forces.

Under the GPH-MILF ceasefire agreement, the MILF will help government forces get rid of terrorists in territories identified with the MILF.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1007059