By FRANCIS WAKEFIELD
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expressed belief that more members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) would turn themselves in to the military and return to the fold of the law.
This after three more BIFF members surrendered on Friday to Army 602nd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Alfredo V. Rosario Jr., bringing with them high-powered firearms composed of caliber 7.62mm M14 rifle, caliber 5.56 rifle, M653 carbine rifle, and two homemade sniper rifles.
The three were identified as Junior Dia Kaul, Roy Saidali Maningkala and Bin Tato Sulaiman, who surrendered due to the effects of the ongoing military operations that killed several rebels through series of aerial bombardments. They were operating in the areas of Liguasan marsh.
Kaul said he was frightened by the capabilities of the military’s air and ground operations that are able to detect rebels even when hiding and are also tired of running away from the aggressive operation against them the past two weeks.
The rebels also said they joined the BIFF group more than two years ago in return for a monthly P6,000 cash incentive which would have helped their families’ needs. The promise however remained unfulfilled.
Following their surrender, the three were presented to Army 6th Infantry division commander Brig. Gen.l Cirilito E. Sobejana.
Sobejana urged the rebels to convince other members to surrender as the 6th ID will provide them refuge to give them security and prevent retaliation from their former group apart from livelihood assistance courtesy of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Fifteen more BIFF fighters surrendered to authorities the last two months.
