Mindanao Peace Process

COTABATO CITY - Fifty members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters surrendered Friday, the largest group ever to return to the fold of law through the intercession of the police.

The group turned in assault rifles, grenade launchers, mortar rounds and components for improvised explosive devices before renouncing their membership with the BIFF in a symbolic rite at Camp SK Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Productivity of farmers in a former bastion of communist insurgents, feared for forced taxation and their ruthless self-styled justice system, has been improving and children in the area now have access to schools.

Lt. Col. Ezra L. Balagtey of the Army’s 39^th Infantry Battalion told reporters Wednesday Brig. Gen. Patricio R. Amata, commander of the 1002^nd Infantry Brigade, visited on Friday the erstwhile enclave of the New People’s Army in Barangay Donganpekong in Matanao, Davao del Sur for a dialogue with the local communities.

QUEZON CITY - Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) Acting Secretary Isidro Purisima signed an agreement on Tuesday, May 2, renewing the agencies’ convergence mechanisms towards the fulfillment of the government’s normalization commitments for the former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

COTABATO CITY - Dala ang kanilang matataas na kalibre ng mga baril, nagpasyang sumuko sa pamahalaan ang anim pang mga kasapi ng Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter o (BIFF).

Ang mga sumuko ay iniharap ng 34th Infantry Reliable Battalion kay Midsayap town Mayor Rolly Sandalan sa ginanap na turn-over ceremony sa Barangay Salunayan, Midsayap, Cotabato.

Kabilang sa mga matataas na kalibre ng baril na isinuko ay ang isang M14 Rifle, isang Garand Rifle, dalawang 7.62 Sniper Rifle, isang M79 grenade launcher at mga bala ng naturang mga armas.

COTABATO CITY --- Six more members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters trained in fabrication of improvised explosive devices surrendered in Midsayap town in Cotabato province Friday.

Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division, Saturday the six BIFF members agreed to surrender through the backdoor intercession of officials of the Army’s 34 Infantry Battalion and Brig. Gen. Donald Gumiran of the 602^nd Infantry Brigade.

COTABATO CITY --- Villagers surrendered to the Army Friday 13 assorted firearms, including grenade launchers, in support of a local disarmament program of the 6^th Infantry Division.

Army Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the 6^th Infantry Division, told reporters Sunday the unlicensed firearms were turned over by residents of interior barangays in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat to the 57^th Infantry Battalion.

MANILA – The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are committed to keeping the peace in the Bangsamoro.

DND chief Carlito Galvez Jr. made this commitment during the 9th anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) on March 27.

Galvez, a former Presidential Peace Adviser, guaranteed that the DND and AFP shall be the vanguards of peace and security in the Bangsamoro.

He also said they would not "allow the spoilers of peace" to negate the gains achieved.

MANILA – The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to fulfilling all agreements under the Bangsamoro peace process.

"Under the Marcos Administration’s banner of unity, the national government is determined more than ever to fulfill the commitments it had made under all signed Bangsamoro peace agreements. It shall not waver from this commitment," OPAPRU acting chief Secretary Isidro L. Purisima said in a statement for the observance of the ninth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) on Monday.

COTABATO CITY - A pregnant member of the New People’s Army wanted for attempted murder yielded to authorities in Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat Saturday.

Brig. Gen. Michael Santos, commander of the Army’s 603^rd Infantry Brigade, said the woman peacefully turned herself in when policemen under units of the Police Regional Office 12 and personnel of the 37^th Infantry Battalion arrived at her hideout in Barangay Napnapon and showed her a warrant for her arrest.

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte - Three ranking leaders of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and four others surrendered to the military Wednesday.

Major Gen. Alex S Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said Friday the seven BIFF members yielded through the backchannel intercession of officials of the 6th Infantry Battalion and local executives in different towns in Maguindanao del Sur province.