11 former extremists yield to Army, turn in rifles in Maguindanao Sur

COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — Eleven former members of extremist groups have surrendered to the military and were presented to the commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade during a ceremony at the headquarters of the 38th Infantry Battalion (38IB) in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Lt. Col. Mark Anthony P. Tornalejo, 38IB commanding officer, presented the former violent extremists to Brig. Gen. Gremel B. Brual, commander of the 601st Infantry Brigade under the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

It was held at the 38IB battalion headquarters in Sitio Landing Fish, Barangay Buayan, Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur.

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READ: 6 extremists, 24 loose firearms surrendered in Maguindanao Sur

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Five of the former extremists came from the towns of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, four from Rajah Buayan, and two from Datu Salibo.

Of the 11, nine were former members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), while the remaining two were affiliated with the Dawlah Islamia (DI).

READ: 4 BIFF fighters surrender, yield guns in Maguindanao del Sur

They were introduced to a path of peace through the government’s “Balik-Loob Program” which aims to help former rebels and violent extremists reintegrate into mainstream society.

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Representatives from the Maguindanao del Sur provincial government, the police and other partner agencies attended the ceremony and expressed their support for the reintegration initiative.

Tornalejo said the surrender was a product of coordination and cooperation between the AFP, PNP, local government units and partner agencies in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

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“I commend the former extremists for choosing to improve their lives and build a better future with their families.  Your decision to abandon violent extremism has transformed you into warriors of peace in Maguindanao del Sur,” Brual said during the surrender rites.

“I also commend the local government units, local officials and the 38IB for your collective support and initiatives to strengthen programs aimed at preventing the proliferation of loose firearms and providing former members of armed groups with opportunities to return to society and become productive citizens,” Brual added.

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Over 150 assorted rifles and explosives have been collected by the military or surrendered in Maguindanao del Sur since January this year. /cb