14 BIFF men surrender

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, Philippines — Fourteen members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered in this town on Monday.

The BIFF fighters turned themselves in to Col. Jovencio Gonzales, 602nd Infantry Brigade (IB) commander, according to Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr.

Rosario said one of the bandits yielded at around 8:30 a.m. Two hours later, a BIFF field commander with his 12 men surrendered.

The group belonged to a BIFF faction led by Kagui Karialan, who is facing more than 30 criminal cases in various courts.

Lt. Col. Edgardo Vilchez Jr., 34th IB commander, said the surrenderees, who were accompanied by members of the town’s council of elders, brought with them high-powered guns and various war materiel, including Garand, sniper and M16  rifles as well as caliber .45 pistols.

More than 200 BIFF members have surrendered since last year. – Roel Pareño, Michael Punongbayan

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