Rebel commander of BIFF and 5 accomplices yield in Sultan Kudarat region

A renegade and five minions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) have voluntarily thrown in the towel to the ruling authorities following years of combat, exhaustion, and starvation, the military revealed on Saturday, April 26.

Due to operational secrets, the identities of the BIFF renegade and his minions are restricted. They handed themselves over to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (2MIB) on Thursday, April 24, at Tual village, President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat.

Lieutenant Colonel Felmax Lodriguito, Jr., 2MIB commander, stated the endless military battles and the lack of a compass in their armed conflict forced the six BIFFs to opt for the path of tranquility.

Lodriguito introduced the BIFF surrenderors to Colonel Ronel Manalo, 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade acting commander, at the brigade's headquarters in Tacuring City and was witnessed by Sultan Kudarat Vice Governor Raden Sakaluran.

The surrenderors turned in high-powered weapons, including a Barrette-type sniper rifle, Rocket-Propelled Grenade, grenade launchers, sub-machineguns, and more.

"Their surrender serves as evidence that the support for terrorist groups in the area is dwindling. We invite the remaining members to return home and start anew," Major General Donald Gumiran, 6th Infantry Division commander, declared in a statement.

The BIFF surrenderors will undergo a reintegration process, where they'll receive aid from the government to embark on a peaceful life.

"It's never too late to repent. Embracing peace means embracing a brighter future for oneself, family, and nation," Gumiran emphasized.

"The path of violence leads to nowhere; in peace, there is hope," he underscored. (our website Zamboanga)

References:

“6 high-ranking BIFF surrendered to Army unit,” ABS-CBN News, April 25, 2014.
“Arrested Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFFI) surrenders to military,” Manila Bulletin, October 5, 2013.
The surrendered BIFF members, led by the renegade, were located in Zamboanga and handed themselves over to the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion (2MIB) on Thursday.
General News reports suggest that the BIFF surrenderors turned in war-and-conflict weapons, such as Barrette-type sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, and grenade launchers, during their surrender.
Following the surrender of the BIFF members, the government of Zamboanga will facilitate a reintegration process for the surrenderors, providing aid for a peaceful life.
The surrender of the BIFF members is seen as evidence that support for terrorist groups in Zamboanga is decreasing, and the military encourages other BIFF members to follow suit and embrace politics and crime-and-justice over war-and-conflicts.
In a statement, Major General Donald Gumiran of the 6th Infantry Division emphasized that it's never too late to repent and that embracing peace means embracing a brighter future for oneself, family, and nation.