5 lawless group members surrender in Maguindanao

CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – Five members of an armed lawless group (ALG) in Pagalungan town in Maguindanao province have surrendered to the military after they decided to live normal lives, the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (6ID) here said Friday.

Assisted by Pagalungan town officials, the ALG members yielded to the Army’s 7th Infantry Battalion (7IB), bringing with them one M16 rifle, one homemade shotgun, and one rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

The surrenderers, led by a certain Commander Kinis Biya, were identified as Target Mulao, Allan Caballero, Bansil Mantikayan, and Nastro Timan, all of Barangay Dalgan, Pagalungan.

“The group, involved in cattle-rustling and other nefarious activities, operates in the southern Liguasan marsh area of the province,” Brig. Gen. Roberto Capulong, commander of the Army’s 602nd Brigade (Bde), said in a statement.

The 602Bde is the mother unit of the 7IB whose area of responsibility includes Pagalungan town.

Capulong said the surrender has prevented the group from completely joining the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, which is prevalent in the Liguasan marsh area.

The ALG surrender took place at the 602Bde headquarters in Camp Lucero, Barangay Nasapian, Carmen, North Cotabato, which shares a border with the towns of Pagalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao.

“I am grateful to the local government of Pagalungan that helped convince the

group’s leader and his followers to return to the fold of the law,” Maj. Gen. Diosdado C. Carreon, commander of the Army’s 6ID and concurrent chief of the Joint Task Force Central, said in a separate statement.

The local government of Pagalungan pledged to extend livelihood assistance to the surrenderers who have been reunited with their respective families.