4 BIFF extremists renounce violence, get livelihood aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 6, 2023): 4 BIFF extremists renounce violence, get livelihood aid (By Edwin Fernandez)

BIFF SURRENDERERS. Four former Moro extremists show their firearms before formally turning over them to military authorities as they renounce violence in favor of peace. Their surrender took place at the Army’s 92nd Infantry Battalion headquarters in Midsayap town, North Cotabato province on Sunday (Feb. 5, 2023). (Photo courtesy of MILG-BARMM)

COTABATO CITY – Four members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have received food aid and livelihood assistance after they laid down firearms and renounced violence in Midsayap town, North Cotabato province, officials reported Monday.

Naguib Sinarimbo, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interior and local government minister, said the ex-Moro rebels who surrendered were presented by the Army’s 92nd Infantry Battalion (IB) to Maj. Gen. Roberto Capulong, the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) commander, on Sunday.

Sinarimbo assured the BARMM government will assist the ex-combatants through the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government's (MILG) Project TuGoN (Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit).

TuGoN is a project of the BARMM government aimed at ending local armed conflict. It is a humanitarian assistance program administered by the MILG for former members of other local armed groups in the region who have chosen to return to the folds of the law.

The activity was carried out in collaboration with the Ministries of Social Services and Development, Public Order and Safety, and other line agencies.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1194541