Maguindanao private army members yield

From the Manila Times (Mar 26, 2022): Maguindanao private army members yield (By Franz R. Sumangil)

A LEADER of a private armed group (PAG) in Maguindanao and four of his men surrendered to authorities ahead of the start of the campaign period for local candidates, the police reported on Thursday.

Col. Jeffrey Fernandez, deputy director for operations of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) police office, said Sidik Ameril and his men surrendered on Wednesday in Talitay town.

"This is a long-awaited development," Fernandez said, stressing that Ameril is a former assemblyman in Maguindanao.

Ameril's group also turned over an M14 rifle, Ultimax rifle, M16 rifle, Carbine rifle, and a homemade grenade launcher.

Ameril said he and his men decided to surrender to clear their names from the police list of active PAGs and help in the government's efforts for a secure, accurate, fair, and free 2022 national and local polls.

The campaign period for local candidates officially began on Friday, March 25.

Six armed followers of Ameril also yielded to the police in December 2020 at Camp Gen. S.K. Pendatun, the BARMM police regional headquarters.

"Our intention is honest. We want to live peacefully in our communities, we are ready to work with the government to help convince other PAGs to also surrender, so we can come up with a peaceful and credible election," Ameril said.

Fernandez said the Police Regional Office in BARMM is committed to dissolving all PAGs in the region.

Meanwhile, a Moro rebel decided to surrender to the police in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao last Wednesday.

Lt. Lucky Seigred Sibayan, Shariff Aguak municipal police chief, identified the surrenderer as Badieuzaman Solaiman, 49, a member of Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Solaiman also turned over his homemade M14 sniper rifle loaded with bullets.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/26/news/regions/maguindanao-private-army-members-yield/1837619