A SUB-LEADER of the terrorist Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), his deputy, and 10 of his men surrendered in Maguindanao on Wednesday, the military reported yesterday.
Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, identified the BIFF sub-leader and his deputy as Anwar Pegas and Zukarno Sailila, respectively.
Pegas and his men surrendered to Lt. Col. Edwin Alburo, commander of the Army’s 40th Infantry Battalion (IB), on Wednesday afternoon at the battalion’s headquarters in Barangay Kabengi in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town.
They turned over two M14 rifles, two M16 rifles, a Carbine, two cal. 50 sniper rifles, two 9mm submachine guns, a 40mm rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) launchers, two M79 grenade launchers, and a 40mm high explosive RPG ammunition.
Rosadio said the surrender was the product of the collaboration among the military, police and the local government.
In Sulu, eight members of another terrorist group, the Abu Sayyaf Group, surrendered in Talipao, Sulu yesterday.
The eight — identified by their aliases as Tuang, 71; Isbain; Asuwad; Siddik; Wahab; Tubah, 32; Jul; and Paddih, 28, — turned in six M1 Garand rifles and an M16 rifle during their surrender.
Brig. Gen. Eugenio Boquio, commander of the Army’s 1101st Brigade, said the Abu Sayyaf men are undergoing custodial debriefing at the headquarters of the brigade in Talipao town.
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Joint Task Force Central and of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the surrender of the 12 BIFF men and of other members of the group in the past show the BIFF is weakening.
A total of BIFF members had surrendered to the military in Central Mindanao during the first quarter of the year, turning over 90 high-powered firearms.
“We are optimistic that these groups, including the BIFF-Karialan faction, are nearing its end,” said Uy.
AFP chief Gen. Andes Centino commended those who made possible the surrender of the 12 BIFF men, adding that reducing the BIFF’s manpower will be a factor in ensuring secure, accurate, and free elections in May.
