Ex-BIFF combatants complete livelihood training

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 14, 2021): Ex-BIFF combatants complete livelihood training (By Edwin Fernandez)

READY FOR REINTEGRATION. Former members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) complete a three-day livelihood training at the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade in Barangay Kaladagan, Tacurong City on Friday (Aug. 13, 2021). The entrepreneurial training (inset), facilitated by the BARMM’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government, is seen as a vehicle for the reintegration of the former BIFF combatants into mainstream society. (Photo courtesy of 601Bde)

A total of 26 former members of the local terror group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in this province on Friday completed a livelihood training workshop to make them productive as they reintegrate into mainstream society.

Brig. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of the 601st Army Infantry Brigade (601Bde), said Saturday the three-day training, held at the military unit’s camp in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat was provided and facilitated by the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government - Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MILG-BARMM).

“It was part of the 'Project Tugon' (Tulong ng Gobyerno sa Nangangailangan) initiative of BARMM under the national government’s thrust of ending local armed conflict nationwide,” Galido said.

He added that more projects from BARMM are in the pipeline for surrendering local terrorists in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Since January, some 100 BIFF members have yielded with the help of the provincial governments of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, lauded the 601Bde, MILG-BARMM, and the local government units for actively pushing for projects that would improve the lives of former rebels.

“With this project, more BIFF who are still out there can be convinced to follow suit and live normal and productive lives,” Uy said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1150432