PEACEFUL SURRENDER. Lt. Col. Glen Caballero, the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion commander, welcomes one of the two ranking leaders of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters who yielded to government forces in Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao on Thursday (Dec. 19, 2019). The BIFF surrenderers say they want to live peaceful lives once more together with their families. (Photo courtesy of 34IB)
Wanting to be reunited with their families, two ranking leaders of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to military authorities on Thursday.
Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and chief of Joint Task Force Central, said the BIFF sub-leaders worked under the group of Sheik Esmael Abubakar alias “Commander Bungos” that operates in the marshlands of Maguindanao.
The surrenderers were identified as Ibrahim Odin, described as a brigade commander, and Daud Paglas, a battalion-level administrative officer.
“They voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Indatuan, Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao at 9 a.m. on Thursday,” Carreon said.
The two turned over a .50-caliber Barrett sniper’s rifle, an M-16 rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade, an improvised explosive device (IED), and pieces of ammunition.
“We want peace and be with our families that is why we voluntarily surrender,” Odin told military officials during debriefing prior to their formal surrender.
He added that their comrades who earlier surrendered and now living normal lives also convinced them to yield.
More than 20 BIFF members have surrendered to the government and were enrolled in the Expanded Comprehensive Local Integration Program since 2017.
Carreon said while the government is using military solutions to solve the problem, it remained open for reconciliation even to hardcore members of outlawed groups.
“They have the chance to rebuild their lives as we are serious in extending peaceful mechanisms to those who contemplate to turn themselves in,” Carreon said.
Western Mindanao commander, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, said peace entails inclusive and participative solutions necessary to convince the rebels to surrender.
“With our success, we think this is an effective resolution, and we mean to sustain this campaign,” Sobejana added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089218
Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon, the commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and chief of Joint Task Force Central, said the BIFF sub-leaders worked under the group of Sheik Esmael Abubakar alias “Commander Bungos” that operates in the marshlands of Maguindanao.
The surrenderers were identified as Ibrahim Odin, described as a brigade commander, and Daud Paglas, a battalion-level administrative officer.
“They voluntarily surrendered to the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Indatuan, Northern Kabuntalan, Maguindanao at 9 a.m. on Thursday,” Carreon said.
The two turned over a .50-caliber Barrett sniper’s rifle, an M-16 rifle, a rocket-propelled grenade, an improvised explosive device (IED), and pieces of ammunition.
“We want peace and be with our families that is why we voluntarily surrender,” Odin told military officials during debriefing prior to their formal surrender.
He added that their comrades who earlier surrendered and now living normal lives also convinced them to yield.
More than 20 BIFF members have surrendered to the government and were enrolled in the Expanded Comprehensive Local Integration Program since 2017.
Carreon said while the government is using military solutions to solve the problem, it remained open for reconciliation even to hardcore members of outlawed groups.
“They have the chance to rebuild their lives as we are serious in extending peaceful mechanisms to those who contemplate to turn themselves in,” Carreon said.
Western Mindanao commander, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, said peace entails inclusive and participative solutions necessary to convince the rebels to surrender.
“With our success, we think this is an effective resolution, and we mean to sustain this campaign,” Sobejana added.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1089218
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