COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Five alleged bomb makers from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered to the Philippine Army in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao del Sur, pledging to leave behind years of violence and reintegrate into civilian life.
The former combatants, all reportedly skilled in assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs), turned themselves in to the Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion (IB) on Tuesday, May 6. The unit, newly deployed from Nueva Ecija, is supporting election security operations in the area.
Lt. Col. Kenny Rae Tizon, commander of the 48th IB, confirmed the surrender, which took place in a symbolic ceremony at the town center, witnessed by local officials and representatives from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Bomb Makers Linked to Militants
The five men handed over their firearms and explosives before formally renouncing ties with the BIFF, a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) known for its links to the Islamic State and involvement in bombings and extortion across Central Mindanao.
“This is a significant breakthrough,” said Major Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID), in a press briefing on Wednesday, May 7. “To see this battalion, a newcomer in the area, already gaining trust and facilitating surrender is promising for our peace efforts.”
Also present during the ceremony were representatives from the Ministry of Public Order and Safety-BARMM, the 601st Infantry Brigade, Datu Salibo’s local government, and the municipal police.
Since 2022, the military has facilitated the surrender of 737 members of the BIFF and its ally Dawlah Islamiya across six provinces and four cities in Central Mindanao. Many have since taken up work in farms, public markets, and small businesses in their hometowns, according to the military.
Strong Cooperation
Gumiran credited the success to strong cooperation among the military, local government units, and Moro elders who have been instrumental in persuading former rebels to lay down their arms.
The military deployed the Army’s 48th IB, part of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division based in Luzon, to Maguindanao del Sur just last month as part of the government’s intensified efforts to secure the May 12 elections in BARMM.
As the region prepares for the polls, the military hopes the growing number of surrenders will help reduce the risk of violence and pave the way for more inclusive peacebuilding on the ground.
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