BY NONOY E LACSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Four members of the Daulah Islamiyah-Maute Group surrendered and turned over their high-powered firearms to government forces in Lanao del Sur on Monday, the military reported on Tuesday.
Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) commander Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr. identified the four Daulah Islamiyah members as Calandada Pungima “Tarapas” Lumondot, 55; Jamal Mamadra “Jamal” Radiab, 30; Muhaimen Mamualas Abdul “Opaw” Carim, 30; and Imam Sultan “Mocta” Moctar, 22.
They also turned over a rocket-propelled grenade, one M79 grenade launcher, one KG9, and one .45-caliber pistol, according to Vinluan.
Lt. Col. Rafman Altre, commanding officer of the 82nd Infantry Battalion (IB) revealed that “Tarapas” participated in the Marawi siege while “Jamal”, “Opaw” and “Mocta” were involved in the different encounters in Piagapo with Imam Dimacaling.
“They decided to go on lie-low status in 2018 following the death of Dimacaling and the siege,” Altre claimed.
“The four submitted themselves to the troops of the 82nd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Pawak, Municipality of Siguiaran, in Lanao del Sur,” Vinluan reported.
During the debriefing, the four Daulah Islamiyah-Maute fighters confessed that they decided to surrender after learning of President Duterter’ order to quell all former violent extremists (FVEs) to ensure the implementation of government programs, Altre said.
Altre also lauded the efforts of the local officials and traditional leaders of Piagapo, Lanao del Sur who facilitated the peaceful surrender.
For his part, Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo III, commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade, reiterated his call to the remaining members of the Daesh-inspired group to surrender.
He guaranteed that the government has programs for FVEs who chose to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law. (Nonoy E. Lacson)
