Dawlah Islamiya leader surrenders in Lanao Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 16, 2022): Dawlah Islamiya leader surrenders in Lanao Sur (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

SURRENDER. Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander (with glasses), discusses plans after a Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) member (in white t-shirt) surrenders Tuesday (March 15, 2022) at the 103ed IBde headquarters in Marawi City. The focused military operation that led to the capture of the DI-MG camp on March 1 in Maguing, Lanao del Sur pushed DI-MG sub-leader Alinor Itak Ibrahim, 26, to surrender. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 03rd IBde)

A sub-leader of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) surrendered to military authorities in Lanao del Sur after being demoralized with continuing government efforts to neutralize local terrorist groups, a top military official said Wednesday.

Alinor Itak Ibrahim alias Liya, 26, yielded and turned over an M16 rifle, as he pledged allegiance to the government Tuesday at the headquarters of the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade (103rd IBde) in Marawi City.

Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the103rd IBde commander, said a military operation that led to the capture of the DI-MG lair in the province earlier this month pushed Ibrahim to surrender.

Troops overrun the DI-MG lair on March 1 in Barangay Ilalag, Maguing, Lanao del Sur following hours of intense firefight preceded by an early morning airstrike.

Eight DI-MG members were killed, while a cache of assorted high-powered firearms and ammunition was recovered from the captured camp.

Ibrahim said the relentless military operations have demoralized the DI-MG and weakened their will to fight.

“We extend our hands wide open to receive other members of the terrorist organization who wish to surrender and embrace peace,” Cuerpo said in a statement.

“I also appeal to those reluctant (DI) members to surrender or face death, as we will aggressively continue our mission to end terrorism here in our province (of Lanao),” he added.

He said the surrender of Ibrahim was made successful through the joint efforts of the municipal government of Piagapo and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace partners, particularly Bangsamoro Transition Authority member Abdullah Macapaar.

Ibrahim, of Barangay Taporog, Piagapo, Lanao del Sur, joined the DI-MG in 2017 during the Marawi Siege.

He was involved in numerous skirmishes against the government, including the ambush in 2020 in Poona, Pigapo, Lanao del Norte against government forces, who were then in civilian attire for an administrative mission.

Cuerpo recounted that the brother and father of Ibrahim along with 30 supporters and couriers have surrendered to the government last month.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169871