A FIELD commander of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and 13 other members of the terrorist group surrendered on Monday to the military in North Cotabato.
The commander, identified only as alias Malayo, and his 12 men yielded at the headquarters of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap town in North Cotabato.
The 13 BIFF men were accompanied by Norodin Akis and Dong Bantas, members of the Council of Elders in Midsayap town, according to 34th IB commander Edgardo Vilchez Jr.
Another BIFF combatant also surrendered at the 34th IB headquarters later in the day. He was identified as Nick Taro, said to be from northern Kabuntalan in Maguindanao.
The 14 BIFF members also surrendered eight M1 Garand rifles, a Springfield cal. 30 sniper rifle, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle, a rocket propelled grenade, three cal. 45 pistols, and assorted ammunition.
Col. Jovencio Gonzales, commander of the Army’s 602nd Brigade, said the surrender of the BIFF members was the product of “joint effort of the military, local PNP and community leaders.”
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the 6th Infantry Division and of the Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), said the surrender of Malayo and the other BIFF members will weaken the capability of the BIFF in staging attacks.
“The influx of surrender of the BIFF Terror Group including its Field Commander is a huge setback to the mainstream BIFF,” said Uy.
