ZAMBOANGA CITY - The deputy chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)-Karialan Faction operating in Central Mindanao surrendered to the military Friday, October 30.
Armed Force of the Philippines- Western Mindanao Command (AFP-WestMinCom) Commander Lt Gen Corleto Vinluan, Jr. identified the surrenderer as Abdulgani Dimalen.
Vinluan said, on Sunday, that Dimalen submitted himself to 33rd Infantry Battalion (33rd IB) Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Elmer Boongaling on Friday, October 30. at around 2:30 p.m.
According to Vinluan, the BIFF-Karialan Faction was involved in numerous atrocities and encounters with government forces in Central Mindanao.
Dimalen brought with him his M14 rifle, and was subsequently presented to Col. Ferdinand Lacadin, officer-in-charge of the First Mechanized Infantry Brigade (1st MIB).
Vinluan said Dimalen heard about the livelihood assistance that he may receive once he surrendered to the government, and this convinced him to lay down his arms.
Boongaling said Dimalen’s formal surrender took place at the 1st MIB headquarters in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, and was witnessed by witnessed by Shariff Aguak Mayor Marop Ampatuan and some relatives of the former BIFF official.
In his message, Lacadin praised Dimalen for his decision to come out and return to the fold of the law.
“You made the right decision. There are better ways to live than to fight with the government and be with the outlawed group,” Lacadin told the former BIFF official.
In local dialect, Dimalen said he “realized that the soldiers are not our enemies, they are just doing their job”.
“The influx of surrenders reflects the positive response of the people and the adversaries in our peaceful mechanisms,” said Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force (JTF) Central Commander.
Vinluan also lauded the troops of the Joint Task Force Central and the intelligence units for sustaining the efforts to end terrorism and to bring about peace and progress in Central Mindanao.