6 Dawlah Islamiya men surrender in Maguindanao

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Six more members of the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya surrendered to the military in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao del Sur and pledged allegiance to the government.

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and its ally Dawlah Islamiya are both known for fomenting hatred for non-Muslims and have a reputation for bombing buses and commercial establishments to compel owners to shell out “protection money” on a periodic basis.

Major Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Army 6th Infantry Division commander, said yesterday that the surrender “is a tacit indication that multi-sector efforts to quell the group via backchannel dialogues are gaining headway.”

The six, trained in fabrication of improvised explosive devices, belonged to a faction led by Kagui Karialan, who was killed, along with 11 followers, in a clash with soldiers in May.

The six also surrendered several sniper rifles, a B40 anti-tank rocket launcher and two M79 grenade launchers. They are among the 498 BIFF and Dawlah Islamiya members who returned to the fold of the law in the past 18 months.