COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Six Dawlah Islamiya terrorists and two New People’s Army (NPA) rebels surrendered and turned over their guns in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte on Monday.
Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, 6th Infantry Division commander, said officials of local government units and the Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion and 603rd Infantry Brigade facilitated the surrender.
“We are expecting the surrender of more misguided elements as a result of multisectoral efforts to usher them back to mainstream society,” Rillera said.
The rebel returnees turned over assault rifles, rocket launchers and improvised explosive devices at a military camp in Barangay Mirab in Upi town.
The 6th Infantry Division said 339 members of the Dawlah Islamiya, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and NPA surrendered last year.