Kalinaw News: Surrender of BIFF Reunites with Family

From Kalinaw News (Feb 6, 2021): Surrender of BIFF Reunites with Family



CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Eleven more Local Terrorist Group – Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) members have reunited with their families after they decided to abandon extremism and joined the government and live normal lives, after they surrendered this morning February 6, 2021.

The surrender of 11 former extremist combatants was a joint efforts of 1st Mechanized Battalion through the 6th Infantry “Redskin” Battalion, headed by the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Charlie Banaag and the 90th Infantry “Bigkis-Lahi” Battalion of the 602nd Infantry Brigade.

The surrenderers belonging to the Karialan faction BIFF presented themselves at the Headquarters of 6th Infantry (REDSKIN) Battalion in Sitio Landing Fish, Brgy Buayan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao.

The former BIFF members turned over one M653 A1 rifle, two M16 A1, one M16 A3, one Browning automatic rifle, one Cal 50 Sniper Rifle, one Cal 30 Sniper Rifle, one Cal 30 Garand Rifle, two M14 Rifle and one 40mm M79 grenade launcher.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of 6th Infantry (KAMPILAN) Division and Joint Task Force Central lauded the troops in their continuous efforts of bringing in former violent extremists to the folds of the government. “The balance use of military and non-military efforts is being operationalize by our line units and now proven effective” Maj. Gen Uy added.

One of the surrenderees alias Anito had been emotional upon seeing his son who was still a year old when he left his family; “Ako ay umalis noon para Sumapi sa grupo ng mga armado, maliit pa ang anak ko, ngayon may apo na ako, gusto ko lang mabuhay ng tahimik at makasama ang aking Pamilya” he added.

The remarkable series of surrender was made possible through the PCVE program (Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism) AGILA-HAVEN (Anak na may GInintuang LAyunin upang Hintuan Ang Violent Extremism Ngayon) or the Maguindanao PCVE model, that was initiated last September 2020.

Since the assumption of Maj. Gen. Uy on September 7, 2020 to date a total of seventy one (71) BIFF have been laid down their arms and go back to the folds of law.

“Ang patuloy na pagbalik loob ng mga ekstremistang grupo sa hanay ng gobyerno ay resulta ng pagtugon sa mga pangangailangan ng bawat pamilya ng dating violent extremist, ito ay ating nakamit sa tulong ng lokal na gobyerno ng Maguindanao” Maj. General Uy stated.

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