23 ‘bandits’ surrender in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Twenty-three alleged members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the military in Maguindanao on Saturday.

The surrender was facilitated by officials of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade and local government executives, according to Maj. Gen. Roy Galido, chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.

The surrenderees – including BIFF men from the towns of Mamasapano, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Sultan Sa Barongis and Talayan towns – turned over rifles and grenade launchers during a ceremony at the Army headquarters in Datu Abdullah Sangki.

The BIFF, which pledged allegiance to international terrorist organization Islamic State, has been tagged in fatal bombings in Central Mindanao since 2014.