4 BIFF extremists yield in Sultan Kudarat

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 9, 2023): 4 BIFF extremists yield in Sultan Kudarat (By Edwin Fernandez)

NEW BEGINNINGS. Brig. Gen. Michael Santos (center), the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, hands over a check from the Sultan Kudarat provincial government to one of the four members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters during surrender rites at the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion headquarters in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat province, on Wednesday (March 8, 2023). The surrenderers turned in high-powered firearms, explosives, and improvised bombs. (Photo courtesy of 7IB)

COTABATO CITY – Four more members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have surrendered to military authorities in Sultan Kudarat province, bringing with them their high-powered war matériel, a military official said Thursday.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, the Army’s 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, welcomed the four extremists back to the fold of the law Wednesday afternoon at the headquarters of the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion (7IB) in Bagumbayan town.

“A better future awaits you. I admire your decision to come out of a useless ideology and restore your faith in the government,” Santos said in a statement, referring to the surrenderers who belonged to the BIFF Karialan faction.

Lt. Colonel Frederick M. Chicote, 7IB commander, said the group also turned over three M79 grenade launchers, an M14 rifle, a Garand rifle, seven 60mm mortar rounds, and improvised bombs.

The former extremists received cash assistance, food packs, and two sacks of rice each from the Sultan Kudarat provincial and the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Soccsksargen Region.

Santos said the negotiation initiated by 7IB troopers led to the surrender of the BIFF members.

Chicote said his unit will continue to reach out to extremists to turn themselves in and rebuild their lives as productive citizens.

Since January this year, at least 50 BIFF have surrendered to the Army’s 6th Infantry Division area of operation in Central Mindanao that includes the provinces of Maguindanao, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and parts of Sarangani and Lanao del Sur.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197002