16 ‘bandits’ surrender in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines  – Sixteen alleged members of the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya surrendered to the Army in Maguidanao on Saturday.

The surrender was facilitated by the Army’s 33rd and 40th Infantry Battalions as well as by local government officials.

The surrenderees, led by Wazire Kumpas, told journalists that the government’s relentless campaign against local terror groups compelled them to lay down their arms.

The Dawlah Islamiya, known as the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, is sympathetic to the Islamic State terror group.

The ceremony for the surrenderees was held at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat and presided by Brig. Gen. Juvymax Uy, chief of the Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade.

Naguib Sinarimbo, minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, attended the event.

The office of Sinarimbo has a rehabilitation program for members of bandit groups who want to return to the fold of the law.