10 more BIFF members surrender in Maguindanao

MAGUINDANAO - Ten more members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters surrendered Sunday through the intercession of the military and local officials in the province.The group, led by Gani Saligan, who hails from Mlang town in North Cotabato province, belongs to a BIFF faction led by Imam Karialan.Saligan and his men were presented to reporters Sunday by Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Army’s 6thInfantry Division during an informal press briefing in Camp Gonzalo Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in MaguindanaoThey yielded two days after eight members of the most radical BIFF group, the one led by Abu Toraife, whose real name is Esmael Abdulmalik, were killed in airstrikes that flattened their hideouts in the Liguasan Delta.The 220,000-hectare delta, surrounded by central Mindanao’s adjoining Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces, is a common lair of criminal gangs and local Islamic State-inspired guerilla groups.All three factions of the BIFF are using the black IS flag as revolutionary banner and are stoking animosity to non-Muslims.Saligan said they decided to surrender due to the escalating rivalry among Karialan, Abu Toraife and the leader of the third BIFF group, Imam Bongos.No fewer than 30 BIFF gunmen have surrendered in batches to units of 6thID since April 2018.They are now being reintroduced into the local communities via rehabilitation programs of the 6thID and the office of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu.Sobejana said Saligan and his followers each received an initial P10,000 cash assistance from the governor that they can spend for the relocation of their families to areas far from reach of their former companions in the BIFF.The BIFF is known for attacking families of members who have returned to the fold of law.