7 more BIFF members yield to Army in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 17, 2021): 7 more BIFF members yield to Army in Maguindanao (By Edwin Fernandez)

BACK TO MAINSTREAM. Seven more members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters surrender to the military on Tuesday (Feb. 16, 2021) in Datu Anggal Midtimbang town, Maguindanao. The surrenderers turned in several high-powered firearms and ammunition. (Photo courtesy of 6ID)

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Seven more extremist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in this province surrendered to the Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (2MIB), an official said Wednesday.

The surrenderers also laid down high-powered firearms when they surrendered Tuesday afternoon to the Army’s 2MIB in Barangay Midtimbang, Datu Anggal Midtimbang (DAM) town, Lt. Col. Orozco, 2MIB commander, said in a statement.

“Their surrender clearly is a signal that they believed in the government’s peace program,” Orozco said.

"Due to the hardships we experienced inside the BIFF organization, we decided to surrender,” one of the surrenderers told the military, Orozco said.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax R. Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander and concurrent chief of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), underscored local officials' role in the surrender of lawless elements in the area.

“The influx of BIFF surrenderers is the product of the program of JTFC together with the provincial government of Maguindanao,” Uy said.

“We welcome these former BIFF members as they go to the mainstream society; our concerted efforts with the provincial government of Maguindanao will pave way for the attainment of the lasting genuine peace in this part of Mindanao,” he added.

At least 78 BIFF members have laid down their arms and went back to the folds of law since Uy's assumption as 6ID commander in September last year.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130901