A TOP official of the Daesh-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the military in Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao, the military’s Western Mindanao Command reported.
Abdulgani Dimalen, the deputy chief of staff of the BIFF-Karialan faction, surrendered to officials of the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion at around 2:30 p.m. last Friday afternoon, according to Wesmincom chief Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr.
Vinluan said Dimalen surrendered after learning about the livelihood assistance he may receive from government if he gave himself up.
Wesmincom spokesman Lt. Col. Alaric Delos Santos quoted Dimalen as saying in a local dialect: “I realized that the soldiers are not our enemies, they are just doing their job.”
Dimalen turned over to the military his M14 rifle and was later presented to Col. Ferdinand Lacadin, commander of the Army’s 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade. Shariff Aguak Mayor Ampatuan and some relatives of Dimalen witnessed the presentation.
