COTABATO CITY — Four more remnants of the defunct Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), all well-versed in assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs), pledged allegiance to the government on Tuesday and vowed over the Quran to reform for good.
The four bombmakers, Monib Gani Andig, Musa Mandih Kadir, Mohammad Salih Gani and Onting Marding Mantato, agreed to return to the fold of law through the intercession of two mayors, Maruja A. Mastura and Mielyn B. Ali, of Radjah Buayan and General Salipada K. Pendatun towns in Maguindanao del Sur, respectively, the officials of the 34th Infantry Battalion (IB) and their superior, Brig. Gen. Gremel B. Brual of the 601st Infantry Brigade.
Each of them first turned over assault rifles, B40 anti-tank rocket and 40 millimeter grenade launchers and a dozen assorted IEDs to officials of the 34th IB before they signed a statement recognizing the Philippine Constitution and the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which is the charter of the now seven-year Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Moro datus in different towns in Maguindanao del Sur and Muslim preachers supporting the joint anti-terror campaign of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region had confirmed to reporters the four bombmakers are all experts in assembling powerful IEDs, using either ammonium nitrate, or potassium chlorate as explosive charges, rigged with detonators that can be set off from a distance using mobile phones.
All four also committed, during the surrender ceremony at the headquarters of the 34th IB in Barangay Zapakan in Radjah Buayan to help convince the few remaining members of the now inactive BIFF and the Dawlah Islamiya terror groups to avail of the reconciliation program for violent religious extremists. — John Felix M. Unson