11 BIFF bandits, 2 NPA leaders surrender

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and two leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered on Tuesday.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander, said the BIFF men were with the faction led by Kagui Karialan.

Uy said the group turned over six guns and a launcher for anti-tank rockets at the headquarters of the First Mechanized Brigade in Barangay Kamasi in Ampatuan town.

In Negros Oriental, two NPA squad leaders known only by their aliases, Camel and Berber, yielded an M14 rifle, two caliber 30 M1 rifles, two 12-gauge shotguns and a .38-caliber revolver when they surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Ayungon town.

Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, 94th IB commander, said Camel served as a squad leader of Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda Platoon of Central Negros Front 2 while Berber was with the NPA’s Regional Strike Force.