ZAMBOANGA CITY — A finance and logistic officer of the Daulah Islamiyah -Tureife Group (DI-TG) and his aid including a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters -Karialan Faction (BIFF-KF) surrendered and turned over their high-powered firearms to the military in central Mindanao.
Joint Task Force Central (JTF-C) Commander Major General Roy Galido said yesterday the three surrendered to the 6th Infantry Battalion in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao on Friday.
Galido identified them as a certain Amin, 43, logistic and finance of the DI-TG and his aid Torren and a curtain Mangandili a former member of the BIFF-KF.
The three handed over to the soldiers their respective M14 rifles, Galido said.
Statistics of the JTF-C showed that from 1 January to date JTF Central reported a total of 10 DI-TG surrenders and a massive number with a total of 146 BIFF surrenders.
In a related development, a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed while another was critically wounded during a clash with soldiers of the 38th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Maitum, Sarangani Province on Thursday.
Galido said soldiers of the 38th IB were conducting a combat clearing operation in the forested area of Maitum when they chanced two NPA members.
One of the NPA members immediately drew his pistol and opened fire at the approaching soldiers triggering a short firefight killing one of them and wounding the other.
The slain NPA member was identified as Gilbert Matingkal and the captured NPA as Ronel Matingkal, both residents of La Union in Maitum town.
Armed Forces of the Philippines — Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt. Gen. Alfredo Rosario, Jr said that the AFP will never allow terrorists to create havoc in peaceful communities.