A FIELD commander, a bomb maker, and seven other members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters surrendered to the military in Maguindanao on Saturday morning.
The Zamboanga City-based AFP’s Western Mindanao Command (Wesmincom) named the field commander and bomb maker as Rahib Baguindali Nawal alias Rahib and Abdulrahim Kinona Mariano alias Junior.
The seven other BIFF men who yielded were Zed Baguindali Nawal alias Jerome, Mamalinta Em Abdul alias Alvin, Kasim Mujahid Abdul alias Bots, Abdul Rafael Kanda alias Pai, Jessie Abunawas Abdul alias At, Surab Abdullah alias Bhods, and Mentato Mesol alias Palangan.
The nine surrendered to Lt. Col. Jonathan Pondanera, commander of the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion, said Maj. Alaric delos Santos, Wesmincom spokesman.
They were presented to 6th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy and 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Jesus Rico Atencio, during the celebration of the 33rd founding anniversary of 6th ID in Camp Siongco in Maguindanao on Saturday.
The nine surrendered nine high-powered firearms and ammunition for a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.
Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr said the nine were involved in clashes with government troops in Ampatuan, Maguindanao in March 2020 and harassment activities in Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
Vinluan also said the nine surrendered because of continuous combat operations by the government forces and they had nothing to eat.
